Breastplate

“‘The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’” (Matthew 13:24-32).

Saint Patrick (Unknown)

The Apostles had a very important role after the ascension of Our Lord.  It was to the Apostles that Christ entrusted the instruction of His Church.  Now, there is no way that such instruction could have taken place without the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit.  You see, there were days recounted in the Acts of the Apostles, when thousands of people were converted to Christianity after listening to Saint Simon Peter preach.

Now, Saint Simon Peter loved the Lord.  And he repented for having deserted Him three times before the cock crowed on the night when Christ was sentenced to death, but even with all his love, he was a simple fisherman.  Even despite all his best efforts he was only a man with only a man’s ability to influence the world and the lives of others.  And more so, Saint Peter was a poor fisherman.  In Christ’s time the men who were clever enough to memorise the Torah became teachers, those who could memorise parts of it became craftsmen and those who could not memorise even enough for that became fishermen and labourers.  And this tells us that Saint Simon Peter had not the ability to be a teacher based on his own merit.

And yet, still He was able to bring others to God…  And this was surely the work of the Holy Spirit…

“Another parable Jesus put before them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’” (Matthew 13:24-32).

You see, the apostles are asked to sow seeds of Faith.  And I too am an apostle…

Saint Patrick was one an apostle also.  He was born in Roman Britain and was captured and enslaved by Irish pirates when he was only fourteen years old.  He grew to love God during that captivity and after he escaped (at the age of twenty) he returned to spread the Good News among the Irish…  “The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith…  My soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain.”

For the next forty years, Saint Patrick preached in Ireland.  He lived in poverty and travelled throughout the country enduring many sufferings.  He died in the middle of the fifth century.  “The Breastplate” is a poem that Saint Patrick prayed, “Christ be within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ inquired, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.”

And as I consider my role as another of God’s apostles, it occurs to me that I should pray this prayer of Saint Patrick.  For through his intercession and the power of the Holy Spirit, a great many souls will find my Beloved, a great many souls indeed…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.