Homily: March 17 2017 - St. Patrick - "Put out into the deep"

A millennium and a half after his life and death, St. Patrick continues to be a saint with many devotees.

He was born in Roman Britain and when he was fourteen or so, he was captured by Irish pirates during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. At the time, Ireland was a land of Druids and pagans but Patrick turned to God and wrote his memoir, The Confession.

Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain and was reunited with his family.

Not long after reuniting with his family, Patrick sensed a growing calling to return to Ireland to preach the Gospel. He was trained as a priest and was ordained by St. Germanus, who sent Patrick back to Ireland as a missionary bishop, like St. Paul.

Like the Lord instructed in the Gospel, Patrick “put out into the deep water” of Pagan Ireland. He preached for 40 years and converted the Emerald Isle to Christ.

The famous breastplate of St. Patrick speaks of the saints immense trust in the strength of Christ, which we do well to emulate: "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."

Such trust in Christ, union with Christ through prayer, imitation of Christ’s suffering is necessary as we are called to spread the Gospel amidst the growing Paganism of modern culture.
The Lord’s words “put out into deep waters” is a call to every Christian, no matter their state in life, to take up the missionary mandate of the Church: to reach out to those who do not have faith, to reach out to the poor and suffering, and to not be afraid to witness to the truth of the Gospel in the public sphere and the political realm.

Where are the deep waters in your own life? Who are the fish that seem just out of reach? A fallen away family member? An angry neighbor? Who needs to be invited back to Mass…to the Confessional…to speak with the priest about an annulment…who needs to be gently confronted about an addiction or unchaste behavior?

Today, May Christ be within us, before us and beside us, and help us to be faithful to the work he calls us to, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - -For those gathering in celebration of St. Patrick today, for their safety and sobriety, and that their festivity may be spared of debasement, and be for the greater glory of God.

For the spread of the Gospel and reevangelization of the Irish people and for all those who have fallen away from the Church.

That St. Patrick may be for the entire Church an example of missionary zeal and trust in the Lord.

That civil leaders will use their authority to protect the dignity of human life and the well-being of the poor, the marginalized, the oppressed, those who suffer from discrimination, and the unborn.  We pray to the Lord.

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation or illness: that the tenderness of the Father’s mercy will comfort them.  We pray to the Lord.