Fr. Sanctus Mario
Inspiration and Bible Reflections

If God says that, Do It. Reflection on the Feast of Saint Patrick

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Breakfast with the Word Feast of Saint Patrick

 

Luke 5:1-11

 

Today the Holy Mother Church celebrates the feast of Saint Patrick. He was born in Britain to a Roman family. Saint Patrick was taken to slavery in  Ireland at the age of sixteen. He was credited to be the one who brought Christianity to Ireland. He died in Ireland.

 

Saint Patrick endured many hardships as a bishop. While a missionary in Ireland, he endured a lot of hardship and passed through many challenges. 

 

Despite the troublesome challenges, Saint Patrick remained strong in God. He took the word of God as his guide and consolation. One of His favourite quotes is from Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God”. 

 

Once it is God’s word, Saint Patrick was willing to abide by it even when things became troublesome. His life teaches us how to trust in God’s word always, especially at that point when there is a temptation to lose hope in God.

 

 He is remembered for his fearless way of preaching the word of God and deep trust in the word. Saint Patrick is remembered today as the second Patron of the Nigerian Church. The church in Ireland and Nigeria celebrate today the feast of Saint Patrick in a special way.

 

Read More

 

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Luke 6:36-38: Reasons We Have To Be Merciful. Monday 2nd Week of Lent

 

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When People Think You Can Never Succeed In Life

 

If You want to be made Well

 

Signs that You have Faith in God

 

Rest on the Mercy of God

 

God’s Love for the World:  Laetare Sunday

 

Love is the Most Important

 

Why It looks as if God is not working in your life

 

 

 

The Gospel.

 

In today’s gospel, Jesus came to the lake of Gennesaret, He saw Peter and other fishermen already washing their nets.

 

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 Peter and the fishermen had toiled all through the night, but yet caught nothing. He took his time and taught the crowd, then He asked Peter to put his net deep into the water for a catch. 

 

Peter complained that He had worked all through the night and caught nothing but if He says so, He can. By obeying Jesus, Peter caught a huge number of fish that even their nets could not bear. They even signaled to others to come and help them. 

 

Like Saint Patrick, Peter never doubted the word of God. His modus operandi hence is “if God says so, I will do”. Therefore, Peter, obeying the word of God  did not end in vain. In essence, we can never obey the voice of God, and that singular effort that we make goes in vain. Such a thing does not happen, Obedience to the word of God has a healing, miraculous and salvific effect.

 

 

Other Implications.

 

1. Like Peter and Saint Patrick, there are also times when we do face problems, disappointments and challenges in life. 

 

There are moments we feel it is good to lose hope in God especially when it seems God is keeping silent. Whenever life confronts us with these problems and other challenging situations, let the word of God be our best guide. Whatever God says we shall do amidst troublesome challenges, is what we shall do. 

 

2. When you read the bible from the beginning to the end, you can never find anywhere God instructed His children to lose hope when they face problems. We are the people who choose to do that. 

 

You will never find a single place God asks His children to complain, blame or allow themselves to die in worry. 

 

In this gospel, you will see that Peter tried to complain. Had it been he just complained and refused to obey, no miracle would happen.

 

 In the time of problems, what God tells us is “fear not”, “trust in Me” etc. If God says so, this is what we shall do and nothing more. Therefore, when you choose to dotherwise, we disobey God and this is why problems keep coming.  

 

 

3. Peter was an expert in fishing but yet He couldn’t get a catch until Jesus came to help. Therefore, despite however knowledgeable you feel you are, do not despise the word of God. 

 

There is a limit to whatever the human mind knows. There is a limit to what we can do, despite however skillful we are. So, Never forget your God. His presence in your life can mean a lot.

 

4. Before the miracle, Jesus took time to teach the people first. Secondly, the miracle of today happened immediately  Peter decided to obey the Lord. 

 

It affirms what Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from God. Therefore, today’s episode teaches that obedience to God’s word should come first. 

 

Matthew 6:33 says “seek first the kingdom of God and other things will be given to you. So our problem today is that we seek miracles but neglect the word of God. We live the way we want and expect miracles to happen. This then causes a lot of problems.

 

5. If God says that you live in faith, live in faith. Hence, if God needs you to come to Him always, always come to Him. If He demands that you live in peace, live in peace. Thus, If God wants you to be merciful and forgive, be merciful and forgive. 

 

If He wants you to be prayerful and run away from temptation, do not think twice. The Creator of the universe knows the reason He needs us to do them. It is only when we do them, that we can find out the reason God demands these from us. The word of God does not go in vain.

 

When we obey God, we will always experience an inner peace. When we obey Him, it leads us to salvation, eternity, healing, upliftment, favours and abundant blessings. He says in Luke 11:28 “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.

So, let us today emulate Saint Patrick and Peter. To do this is the surest secret of salvation and abundant blessings.

 

May God help us to emulate the life of Saint Patrick. May He give us the strength to remain obedient to His word. Amen. 

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51 Comments
  1. Eze, Blessing Chinasa says

    Amen. God, please give us the grace to always obey You without questioning.

    May You forgive us and draw us closer to You.

  2. Obinna says

    Amen
    Thank you Fr

  3. Jacqueline Aforkpah says

    Amen 🙏. Thanks so much for the reflection Fr. May God bless us with listening ears to hear His word and do His will. Father, resurrect my spiritual life so that I will always have the zeal to read the word of God 🙏

  4. Onyekonwu Ngozi says

    Amen! Wonderful Father I thank you this morning for your word into my life. Please grant me the Spirit of obedience to do your Will and carryout your command accordingly through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.

  5. Nonye Maduka says

    Amen

  6. Eririogu Fidelia says

    Amen. Thanks father

  7. Nancy chizoba says

    Great and glorious St. Patricks pray for your children! Great and glorious St.patricks harken to the prayers of your children. Amen.

  8. Mercy E Johnny says

    Amen, St Patrick, pray for us. Amen

  9. Nenye says

    Amen and amen

  10. Chikwendu Esther Amarachukwu says

    Amen. Heavenly father help me to always remain in faith.

  11. Mrs Nora Nkoli Anabiri says

    Amennnnnnn

  12. Angela Madu says

    Amen

  13. Mulerwa Rosemary says

    Amen thanx father

  14. Ereke Joseph says

    Lord Jesus Christ come and have ur way in my life so that I will be faithful to you the end

  15. Blessing Chilo Adie says

    Your words oh Lord are Spirit and life. Help us to abide by your word today and always through Christ our Lord Amen

  16. Ekwem Emmanuela Chiamaka says

    Amen

  17. Otokpa Elijah says

    Amen

  18. Rosemary Umeze says

    Amen

  19. Regina Mobu says

    Amen! Thank you father for the encouragement.

  20. Adeline Chidimma says

    Amen and Amen. God please help me to be the doer of Your word

  21. Mirian igwe says

    Amen 🙏🙏🙏

  22. Dorothy Mary Iyinbor says

    Amen thanks Padre

  23. Dr Nicholas Onyia A. says

    Amen and amen.

  24. Obodo Onyinyechi says

    Amen!!!

  25. Blessing Anne says

    Amen

  26. Mailoushi James says

    Amen, remain blessed to the glory of God, Fr.

  27. Mbama Christiana says

    Amen. Thank you Padre, may the Lord give me the grace to live in accordance of His word. Amen

  28. Carmela U. Ekwem says

    Àmen! & Àmen! Thanks and God bless you Fr.
    May God grant us the grace to always abide by his words and trust in his words and promises, Àmen!

  29. Ibeawuchi Monica says

    Amen

  30. Ani Chinonyelum Emmanuella says

    Amen

  31. Okwuchi Juliet says

    Amen

  32. Bibiana Uche Unachukwu says

    Amen Amen Amen. St Patrick pray us Amen

  33. Gabriel-Martin says

    Amen Fr

  34. Michael Jones says

    Amen

  35. Chinwe Agwoile says

    (Singing)Great and glorious St Patrick! Pray for your dear children.
    Great and glorious St Patrick. Hearken to the prayers of your children!
    Lord Jesus, may You give me the grace to take active part in the mission of catching souls for You so Your Kingdom on earth may expand and people will come to experience Your loving Mercy. May I, like
    St. Patrick, be devoted to prayer, penance and austerity. May You help me to turn things that imprison me into things that free me by embracing Your will. May I always turn to You to find freedom and hope. St. Patrick, pray for us.
    Thanks dear me.

  36. Enibe Jacinta Amara says

    Amen

  37. Stella Ekwemalor says

    Amen

  38. Helen says

    Amen🙏 thank you Padre.

  39. Judith Abuah says

    Amen… More grace fr…. This is really inspiring n transforming. We need to obey God who knows everything. Glory

  40. Josephine kanu says

    Amen

  41. Okonkwo onyinye says

    AMEN

  42. Grace Uba says

    Amen

  43. Beatrice Solomon says

    Amen

  44. Amalu Gloria says

    Amen, so shall be done unto us in Jesus name amen. Thank you fr. It’s well digested. May almighty God continue to strengthen you in Jesus name amen.

  45. Awodike Florence says

    Oh Lord, help me to Emulate the life Saint Patrick and Peter.. Also make me to be Prayerful.
    More Anointing…

  46. Awodike Florence says

    Oh Lord, help me to Emulate the life of Saint Patrick and Peter..
    More Anointing…

  47. Okeke Juliet Nneka says

    Amen 🙏.

  48. Mailoushi James says

    Amen, remain blessed Fr

  49. Nwatu Nneka P says

    Amen. Great and glorious Saint Patrick pray for us thy children

  50. Bibiana Uche Unachukwu and family says

    Amen. St Patrick of Ireland pray for us Amen

  51. John Obasi says

    Amen 🙏🙏🙏

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