You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom. Not only that - count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens - give a cheer, even! - for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. - Matthew 5:10-12
On this March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day), as I reflect on the words from the Sermon on the Mount regarding persecution, my heart and mind are drawn to an ancient prayer attributed to Patrick. As a boy, he was kidnapped from his native Britain and enslaved in Ireland. He later escaped and returned home. However, God called him back to his captors to preach the gospel and blessed his ministry. Yet, even in the midst of his work, he still faced much suffering and persecution. I imagine him uttering the words of this prayer in those dark times and I find them a comfort in my own struggles. Two passages from the prayer are especially poignant and I share them here with the hope they might be of help to you.
I arise today, through
God's strength to pilot me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
