Saturday, March 17, 2012

The Three-In-One

Today is St. Patrick's Day.  We often connect this day with shamrocks, leprechauns, pots of gold and corn beef cabbage! The color green can be found everywhere ~one of the fast food places even sells green shakes.  Some of my ancestors are Irish, and my birthday is the first day of Spring so I guess that makes this day a bit more special as I began celebrating early. (ha)

Did you know that St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the mystery of the Holy Trinity?   The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost~ three persons who are ONE God.  I read in the Daily Guideposts devotional that the three leaves also symbolize the three great virtues found in I Corth. 13:13 ~ Faith, Hope and Love.

In Irish villages when guests leave the festivities it is customary for the host to take a burned stick and mark a charcoal cross on the sleeve of each person to remind them of their committment to faith and love to Ireland's patron saint.  It reminds me of the ashes put on the foreheads of those who attend worship on Ash Wednesday.  Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

This day, as we think about leprechauns and shamrocks, let us remember the Trinity and give thanks for our Heavenly Father who loves us, delights in us and rejoices over us as any Father would His children.....let us give thanks for the Son~ Jesus who died for our sins and our diseases...to give us eternal life....and let us give thanks for the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us, giving us the same power that raised Jesus from the dead!   Let us rejoice in the many blessings the "three-in-one" Trinity bring into each of our lives.  We are richly blessed.


I am linking up to Spiritual Sundays.  Please stop over and visit Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays to read inspirational posts or link up your own.

4 comments:

Whidbey Woman said...

Thank you for this reminder about the shamrock! I had forgotten that about St. Patrick. Hope you're having a great weekend! God bless.

Renee said...

You are welcome Whidbey Woman! Hope you had a good weekend too.

betty-NZ said...

It's funny how most 'carnal' things can have a spiritual meaning, too. Great post.

Charlotte said...

Enjoyed this Irish post. I've learned more about St. Patrick this year than I ever knew before. I like the shamrock Trinity analogy.
Blessings,
Charlotte