Reflection on the Commemoration of St. Patrick

Who am I, Lord, and what is my calling, that you worked through me with such divine power? You did this so that today among the Gentiles I might constantly rejoice and glorify your name wherever I may be, both in prosperity and adversity. You did it so that, whatever happened to me, I might accept good and evil equally, always giving thanks to God. God showed me how to have faith in him forever, as one who is never to be doubted. From the Confession of St. Patrick

A great lesson is available for us in the words of St. Patrick: that we might rejoice and glorify God regardless of the situation; that we might accept with faith whatever comes our way. It is a lesson of trust. This Lent trusting in God has weighed heavily on my mind. Somehow I knew at the beginning of the season that trust would be thematic for me. However, I didn’t yet realize just how deeply and personally I would be called upon to trust in God. In fact, it became so relevant to me that I took many days away from writing here at my blog just to digest everything.

The season of Lent this year has been a time of difficult decision making. After a great deal of prayer and seeking the will of God in my life I decided not to return this August to the school district where I have worked for the past four years. Many factors influenced my choice. However, rather than pointing to specifics, allow me to say only that I found myself praying frequently regarding God’s will in my life concerning where I work, and I took it as a sign that I should be decisive in the matter. Therefore, my choice arose out of prayer and trusting that sometimes God asks us to do something risky—to dare to take a chance.

I doubt that St. Patrick knew much about what lay ahead of him when he chose to take up his mission to the people of Ireland. However, clearly he embarked trusting God and a great good came forth from the choice that he made. Still, we must balance risk and chance in life’s decisions with a determination to work in such a way that our actions please God. In my last post I intimated that the willingness to work can fill those areas of our lives where there is uncertainty or insecurity. Never should we fear the decisions we make providing that we meet them with a determination to work diligently to insure that the will of God comes to pass.

Someone recently asked me if I simply took my future on faith. Of course I replied negatively—faith alone simply won’t do. Our faith must be infused thoroughly with the willingness—the will—to act decisively time after time, and with the determination to work toward that end to which our faith directs us.

In our faith we find the ability to trust God entirely. Whatever happens we offer thanks to God for what we have, for God is the source of all we have. To be successful in our undertakings we trust, regardless of what lies ahead, and we go on giving thanks to God as we work to see his will come to pass in our lives.

Comments

[Lily]

I'll pray for you, that you find the new place of work He has been preparing for you.
Dia leat.

[forget me not]

Amen Lily. Good luck DD.

[Gabrielle]

This was a huge decision, and I too wish you all the best in whatever career path the Lord has planned for you, deacon dan.