Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch

 

Feast of St. Patrick

Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Universalis: Mass

Today, we commemorate the feast of St. Patrick, patron Saint of the Archdiocese of New York and of our cathedral on Fifth Avenue. As a result of this, the Feast of St. Patrick is elevated to that of a solemnity in the Archdiocese of New York. It’s a special day for us in the archdiocese of New York as we give praise and gratitude for this great Saint.

Saint Patrick was born in Great Britain about the year of 385. As a young man he was captured and sold aa a slave in Ireland where he tended sheep. After escaping from slavery, he chose to follow God’s call and become a priest. Eventually, after becoming bishop, he returned to Ireland to preach the Gospel. As a result of his preaching many were converted to the faith, and he was able to establish the Church in Ireland. He died in the year 461.

In the gospel for today, we hear the Lord call Peter and the others to follow him in order to bring people to the love and knowledge of God and of God’s love for them. We hear in the gospel, Jesus saying, “Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch.” St. Patrick heard that same call of Christ. Being a slave could have left him bitter and resentful of those in Ireland that enslaved him, but instead he was able have forgiveness for them and the courage to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the people of Ireland.

St. Patrick is quoted as saying, “I came to the Irish people to preach the Gospel and endure the taunts of unbelievers, putting up with reproaches about my earthly pilgrimage, suffering persecutions, even bondage, losing my birthright of freedom for the benefit of others.”  It was a difficult challenge for Patrick. But Christ was central to all that  he did once he heard the call of Christ to bring others to faith in Him.

St. Patrick would further go on to say, “If I am worthy, I am ready also to give up my life, without hesitation and most willingly, for his name.” His faith was that deep that it was more important to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Ireland than to live a life of ease elsewhere. Christ was the center of who he was, and he had the courage to bring that faith in Jesus Christ to others.

One legend that has come down through the centuries is that, while explaining the Trinity to the Irish people, he would hold up a shamrock as a metaphor, with its three leaves, and explained that while the shamrock was one, there were three leaves as part of it. He would use this as and example of the Triune God: one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

St. Patrick is an example of how we are to live out our lives. We will never be enslaved by others, nor are we to go off to a distant country, like St. Patrick, to become a missionary in a foreign county. But we are called to be missionaries to those people in our live, whether family or friends. We are called to be fishers of the men and women in our life, to share with them the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord and savior. Through the intercession of St. Patrick pray for those people in your life that may not be faithful followers of Christ. Pray for their conversion that they may come to know the peace and love of Christ.