Corned Beef Confessions

Growing in love rather than relying on luck

03/17/2017

An Old Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

          Boys and girls, today is the feast of St. Patrick and everyone feels Irish today, even Indian priests! So, let me share five timeless traditions and tall tales about St. Patrick’s Day. First, what color are people supposed to wear today? The color green! And what’s the punishment if you do not wear green? You will be pinched. Green comes from the beautiful green landscape of Ireland. Second, what small plant did St. Patrick use to explain the Holy Trinity to the people of Ireland? He used the three-leafed clover. Just as there are three leaves but only one clover, so there are three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – in the Trinity, but only one God.

          Third, an Irish friend gave me this touching prayer this morning, an Irish prayer. It goes: “May all those who love us, love us. And all those who don’t love us…may God turn their hearts. And if he doesn’t turn their hearts…may he turn their ankles, so we will know them by their limp.” Now, St. Patrick did NOT teach people that prayer! Fourth, some people think if you’re Irish you can eat meat on this Friday of Lent because it’s St. Patrick’s Day. That’s a tall tale. I cannot give you dispensation to eat meat today, but I can come an hour early tomorrow and hear everyone’s confessions.

          Here’s the fifth and most important tradition for us at Immaculate Conception Church. Did you know the original name of this church was not “Immaculate Conception,” but rather “St. Patrick”? And when Fort Smith becomes its own diocese, we will name this church, “St. Patrick’s Cathedral”! We have a beautiful stained glass window featuring St. Patrick. If you look closely, you’ll notice he is driving the snakes out of Ireland. Like all stained glass windows, that one, too, is highly symbolic. The snakes symbolize sin, and St. Patrick was really driving out sin and helping people to become saints. That’s why Ireland is called “the land of saints and scholars.”

          Boys and girls, it’s wonderful to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with all the traditions and tall tales: green clothes, corned beef confessions, three leaf clovers, etc. But don’t miss the main message of St. Patrick himself: become a saint by driving out sin and, like St. Patrick drove out snakes. Remember: St. Patrick didn’t come to teach people about luck, he came to teach them about love, especially to love those who walk with a limp.

          Praised be Jesus Christ!