TheNameThing: Patrick

Patrick your name means patrician, noble, aristocrat, man of noble rank and authority. Jesus in you showing others the way to nobility and authority is to serve in the face of adversity. The name Patrick was made famous from the 5th Century Bishop, St. Patrick. He was a Romanized Briton who was captured and enslaved in his youth by Irish pirates. After six years he escaped, eventually became a Bishop, and went back to Ireland as a missionary, proclaiming the gospel of Christ. He is traditionally credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. The date of his death is March 17th which is widely celebrated inside and outside of Ireland as a religious and cultural holiday.

Jesus says, "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man [Jesus] did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom. If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciple."

"Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."

Many answered, "We have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say we will be set free?" Jesus replied, "Very truly I say to you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. People are slaves to whatever has mastered them. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs forever."

And thru Jesus, the Holy Spirit you, Patrick, received does not make you a slave, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Now that you have been set free from sin and have become a slave to righteousness (right standing with God), the benefit you reap leads to holiness and the result is eternal life.

Just as God was with Joseph, the father of the 12 patriarchs of Israel, the patriarchs were jealous, and sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all of his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of the King of Egypt. So the King made him ruler over Egypt and all of his palaces.

Just as St. Patrick, Jesus and Joseph were slaves to righteousness, you too were bought with a price and by One Spirit we are all transformed-united together whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free, and we are all made to drink of one Holy Spirit.

And NOW, that you have been set free, you are free to serve others by showing them the way of Jesus - serving others is true leadership, nobility, and authority. Jesus in you, your name glorifying his name.

Mt 20:26-28; Mk 10:43-45; Jn 8:33; Act 7:8-10; I Cor 7:23; I Cor 12:13; 2 Pt 2:19; Ro 6:22;