Happy St. Patrick's Day

 From Sunday's Student Venues

Happy St Patrick’s Day!

What do you think of when you think of St Pat’s Day?

I always think -- I don’t have any green clothing to wear because it’s such an ugly color on me!

March 17th is a day when everybody claims to be Irish.

“Kiss Me, I’m Irish” will be seen on t-shirts and caps that are only worn one day a year.

People will eat corned beef and cabbage and wash it down with green beer.

Throughout the parties and celebrations, there will be little that accurately depicts the character of the Irish or of St Patrick.

So how about we take a few moments to look at the traditions of Celtic Christianity?

While much of Western Christianity seems focused on the depravity of man and our inherent evil, Celtic Christianity says that we are connected by God’s goodness, that God’s goodness is in each of us -- even if we have strayed from God’s vision and purpose for our life.

When I think of symbols that connect us to the Irish, I think of shamrocks, rainbows, and pots of gold -- probably a misguided connection to Lucky Charms and childhood memories.

The biblical reference to the rainbow doesn’t mention a pot o’gold. It comes at the end of the Noah story when God destroys the earth, all of mankind, and most of the animal life. The story says that God set his bow in the sky and promised never to destroy the earth by flood again. The rainbow is going to remind God to calm down and not destroy us!

(These are the things that convince me that much of the Bible is man-made stories. Does God really need a reminder of a promise not to send another great flood?)

Even so -- this covenant is made with all of humanity. It is for all men, women, boys, and girls. It is for every member of the LGBTQ+ (maybe that’s why they picked the rainbow symbol) community. It is for Muslims, Jews, Christians, atheists, and members of every faith tradition. It is for every nationality and race. The covenant is an all inclusive deal.

It is so weird to me that we can see inclusivity in God’s promises and dealings with humans, but we make up our own rules about separating people based on gender, race, sexuality, etc.

Long before feminism was a thing, St Patrick taught women to read -- something unheard of and frowned upon in his day. He taught that all people were equal -- slaves, free, men, women, clergy, laity.

Like so many of the other world religions, Celtic Christianity believes that we are connected to nature; that God is expressed in nature. (I know that Western Christianity is supposed to believe this too, but it is rarely taught and even more rarely emphasized.)

Pelagius (another Celtic Christian) wrote:

“...it is not what you believe that matters. It is how you respond with your heart and your actions. It is not believing in Christ that matters; it is becoming like him.”

He was considered to be a heretic by his contemporaries and I’m sure he is still considered so today -- but I like it! I’ve known far too many that talk the belief talk, but fail to even try to emulate Christ in their actions. If trying to live like Jesus is heresy, then maybe we should all become heretics.

I often wonder what and how Jesus would teach us in the USA today.

Would he teach us that we are connected to nature?

Would he teach us about climate change?

What would he teach about gender equality?

...about race equality?

...about nationalism?

Wouldn’t it be great to sit with Jesus over corned beef and cabbage this week and get some real-life instruction from him? I have a feeling I know how it would go:

Me: So, Jesus, what do I need to do to get to heaven?

Jesus: It’s simple, John. Just love everybody that I love.

Me: But you love everybody!

Jesus: Yep. Pass me another bottle of Guinness, will ya?