"But Joseph said to them, 'Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.' In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them."
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Are you in a bad spot today? Are you having one of those times when you feel like everything is working against you?
Today, we celebrate the life and work of St. Patrick. We participate in this remembrance, honoring Irish heritage in a variety of ways; wearing green so we don't get pinched; eating corned beef and cabbage; drinking green beer (or just drinking), or; driving around town all day with Irish dancers in tow, dancing at schools and marching in the parade (our day today).
Although St. Patrick is famous for supposedly banishing snakes from Ireland, many are not aware of how he got to Ireland in the first place and why he ended up bringing Christianity to this beautiful land. Patrick was born in Roman Britain. His father, was a deacon, his grandfather a priest. When he was about sixteen, he was captured and carried off as a slave to Ireland. Patrick worked as a herdsman, remaining a captive for six years. His faith grew in captivity and he prayed daily. After six years he heard a voice telling him that he would soon go home, and then that his ship was ready. Fleeing his master, he travelled to a port, two hundred miles away where he found a ship and, after various adventures, returned home to his family, now in his early twenties.
Patrick recounts that he had a vision a few years after returning home:
"I saw a man coming, as it were from Ireland. His name was Victoricus, and he carried many letters, and he gave me one of them. I read the heading: 'The Voice of the Irish'. As I began the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Foclut, which is beside the western sea—and they cried out, as with one voice: "We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us."
Patrick then returned to Ireland to bring the good news of Christ to these people. He, of course, could not have done this unless he had know Gaelic, the language of Ireland. Being taken into captivity in Ireland and toiling there for six years was the thing that facilitated this future ministry, which we celebrate today. He he definitely took the lemons he was given and made lemonade (it was probably green, though).
St. Patrick's life reminds me of the story of Joseph and his brothers, which has been one element of the reading in the Daily Office for the past couple of weeks. Joseph was also taken into slavery in a strange land. He struggled for many years, was even in and out of prison, before the full glory of his purpose was revealed, bringing his family to Egypt, where they were able to prosper in a dry time.
We all have times when things do not seem to be going our way. It is really hard, when living in these moments, to see some potential greater purpose. Many times, we are not able to see what God was doing in our life until much later. But when we look back, we can often see the work God was doing at that time.
So, what are your lemons? Are you slave to something today that is making your life a moment-by-moment struggle? As strange as it sounds, give thanks to God for this time. Praise Him in the storm, in your frustration, in your toil. Although it may be hard to see today, God is working in you for His divine purpose and the result of this tough time will be something more beautiful, more peaceful and more glorious than you can even imagine.
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