Banished Snakes

My second great grandparents, Andrew Stapleton and Bridget O'Connor, immigrated to Canada from Ireland. So, today, St. Patrick's Day, has always had some special significance (even though, I admit, I have sometimes forgotten the wearing of the green).

 

Perhaps he wasn't Irish, but St. Patrick was someone who loved the Irish. Having been forcibly brought to Ireland as a young slave, when he regained his freedom, he soon chose of his own accord to return and bring the freedom of Christ to the Irish.

 

There's a legend told of St. Patrick concerning snakes, that he banished them from the Isle.  But, evidence seems to indicate Ireland really didn't have snakes, of the physical kind, to banish. However, Ireland did have snakes of the spiritual kind. The serpent was highly symbolic to the pagan Druids. And St. Patrick's mission to spread the name of Jesus would have the effect of ousting the "Serpent."

 

“In the light, therefore, of our faith in the Trinity I must make this choice, regardless of danger I must make known the gift of God and everlasting consolation, without fear and frankly I must spread everywhere the name of God so that after my decease I may leave a bequest to my brethren and sons whom I have baptized in the Lord—so many thousands of people.”

St. Patrick

 

When you think about it, God was doing through St. Patrick what the Apostle Paul said in Romans 16:20 that He said He would do—crush Satan under the feet of Christ's followers. As St. Patrick "spread everywhere the name of God," the serpent's hold on the Irish was slowly being crushed.

 

All this was the fruit of an intimate relationship with His Savior. He wrote, "The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and 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."

 

Another historical legend, Johnny Appleseed, planted seeds wherever he went that grew apple trees. St. Patrick planted the name of Jesus that grew followers of the Lord.

 

The latter is what we as moms most desire—the name of Jesus planted in our children so that they grow into mature followers of Jesus Christ.

 

One scripture we pray over our children is Matthew 5:48, asking the Lord, as the Amplified Bible translates the verse, that they be perfect (growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity), as their heavenly Father is perfect.

 

For our children who have as yet not given themselves to their Savior, we pray that the Lord would open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and receive a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus. (From Acts 26:18)

 

That was St. Patrick's heart's desire—to overthrow the power of Satan who held a grip on the people of Ireland. So we celebrate a man of God who "banished snakes" from the green isle.