17 March 2018
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent / Memorial of St. Patrick, Bishop
St. Patrick stood in the tradition of St. Paul who saw the need to implement the truths of the faith but realized that a way that worked for one people may not work the best for others. We see this in the Pauline letters in which not one sheep is mentioned whereas the gospel talks about sheep all the time. Why? For Jesus’ rural audience the analogy of sheep and shepherds made sense. For Paul’s urban audience such a comparison would not be helpful. So in light of St. Patrick, who used indigenous celebrations and local flora, the shamrock, to describe the Trinity, we need to imitate St. Paul and St. Patrick in finding ways to express the truths of the faith. One least helpful way is to continue the stereotype that Irish need to drink heavily on this day. In recent decades we have effectively examined false and determinantal stereotypes. Instead, let’s look to the heritage of St. Patrick who spread the faith by ingenuity and determination.