Festival of St. Patrick, Bishop and Confessor
Posted on March 17, 2022 by under
Scripture: St. John 12:20-26 (NKJV)
12:20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
Devotion
It is no coincidence that when the Greeks desired to see Jesus we also get a saying from the Lord about dying wheat. Jesus uses the growth of wheat from a dying seed to explain His own work. His death in a specific time and place will open the doors of salvation for people of every age and nation; providing salvation for both Jew and Greek.
Jesus now calls all nations to follow him. St. Patrick was compelled to preach the saving message of Jesus Christ to the pagan nation of Ireland. Even when the Irish enslaved St. Patrick, he knew the love of Christ could set the Irish free from their bondage to sin. The saints can teach us how we are to follow our Lord and take up our cross in our daily lives. We might not see God convert an entire nation in our lifetime, as St. Patrick did, but we can call upon the Holy Ghost to keep us faithful in following Christ.
Prayer: O God, who seest that of ourselves we have no strength: Keep us both outwardly and inwardly; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Festival of St. Patrick, Bishop and Confessor
O God, who didst call Patrick to preach the Gospel, grant to Thy servants steadfastness in the confession of the true faith that they would preach that unchanging Gospel in the midst of the darkness of this age, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with the Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
