Friday 17 March

St Patrick

Jeremiah 1: 4-9; Ps 106; Acts 13:46-49; Luke 10: 1-2, 17-20
Written in heaven

There is something beyond the wearing, eating and drinking of green on the feast of this wonderful missionary. I have always thought it remarkable that St Patrick wanted to return to Ireland, the place of his enslavement, to preach the Gospel. His love of God so deeply motivated him to return and allow the Gospel of Jesus to be heard and seen among the very ones who had been cruel to him. St Patrick is among the giants of missionaries. His name is written in heaven. The seventy- two were impressed with all that they had achieved meanwhile Jesus draws them deeper to an awareness that their names are written in heaven. Can we pause and know that our names are being written in heaven.