Saint Patrick
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14
Wearing green on March 17th, leprechauns, “luck of the Irish,” and four-leaf clovers- all of these form a list of superstitious festivities surrounding Saint Patrick’s Day. Though many of these superstitious traditions have been moved from good-luck charms to nothing more than seasonal graphic t-shirts at Walmart and marshmallows in Lucky Charms cereal, an admonition should still be given concerning superstitions. It makes no sense, and it goes against God' s Word, for us to put our trust in small weeds that you can find on your lawn—four-leaf clovers. Believing that entire ethnic groups, such as the Irish, have good luck in their genetic code, when God has not said this, is wrong. No blessing can be found in these superstitions.
St. Patrick’s use of the clover was not meant to set up superstition for us to make use of. Besides, He didn’t even use a four-leaf clover; He used a three-leaf clover to teach us about the One from Whom all blessings flow. St. Patrick used the three-leaf clover to try to explain the concept of the Trinity to the Celtic people of Ireland. Of course, this attempt fell short because no one can truly understand how three persons in one God can be. Yet, in this attempt to teach the Trinity, Patrick points the Celts and all Christians to the source of every blessing, the person in whom we should put our trust. This Triune God has made you and He protects you. He has redeemed you with His perfect life and innocent death, and He has given you new life through faith in Jesus. He keeps that new life of yours alive through the Gospel. This God is all you’ll ever need to pray to and trust in.
My guilt, O Father, Thou has laid On Christ, Thy Son, my Savior.
Lord Jesus, Thou my debt hast paid and gained for me God’s favor.
O Holy Ghost, Thou Fount of grace, The good in me to Thee I trace;
In faith do Thou preserve me.
The Lutheran Hymnal 375:5