Gospel Reflection for St. Patricks Day 2024
By The Benedictine Community
Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News. (Psalm 116)
This Gospel is the basis of the legend that Saint Patrick drove out snakes from Ireland. (Never mind the fact that cold-blooded reptiles cannot exist in this climate.)
Power over poisonous creatures as well as devils constitute part of the glorious promises Jesus makes to his seventy-two missionary disciples. But extraordinary powers were not the important part of the reward Jesus promised his chosen missionaries: the important part was that their names were written in heaven.
This is the part of the Gospel that is most meaningful for us personally.. We might not be able to tread underfoot serpents and scorpions but Jesus does give us power to overcome the enemy. By striving consciously to follow Jesus Christ day by day, season by season, by loving and serving Him, never doubt that we can prevail over evil and that our names too will be written in heaven. Praise God!