The Feast of St Patrick | Thursday 17 March 2022

Today is Thursday the 17th of March, the feast of St Patrick, in the second week of Lent.
Tenebrae, directed by Nigel Short, sing "Bless the Lord My Soul" from Rachmaninoff's Vespers. "Bless the Lord, my soul. Lord God, how great you are!" As I begin to pray today, I acknowledge the greatness of God, who created me and everything around me, the earth the moon and the stars, who makes springs gush forth in the valleys and grass grow for the cattle. And I place myself in the hands of that great and wonderful God.
BLAGOSLOVI, DUSHE MOYA, GOSPODA, blagosloven esi, Gospodi.
Gospodi Bozhe moy, vozvelichilsya esi zelo.
Blagosloven esi, Gospodi.
Vo ispovedaniye i v velelepotu obleklsya esi.
Blagosloven esi, Gospodi.
Na gorakh stanut vody. Divna dela Tvoya, Gospodi.
Posrede gor proydut vody. Divna dela Tvoya, Gospodi
Vsya premudristiyu sotvoril esi.
Slava Ti, Gospodi, sotvorivshemu vsya.
BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL, blessed art thou, O Lord.
O Lord my God, thou art very great.
Thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
Blessed art thou, O Lord.
The waters stand upon the mountains.
Marvellous are thy works, O Lord.
In wisdom hast thou made all things.
Glory to thee, O Lord, who hast created all.

Today's reading is from the Prophet Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 1:4-9
Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.' Then I said, 'Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.' But the Lord said to me, 'Do not say, "I am only a boy"; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.' Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, 'Now I have put my words in your mouth'.
Today is the feast of St Patrick. He was captured as a slave and taken to Ireland as a boy. After escaping, he later returned to bring the Christian faith to that land. Imagine what it would have been like for him to hear this reading.
Compare that with what it's like for you to hear these words addressed to you, now. The God who knew you before you were born now sends you out to make him better known. What's your own first reaction to that?
Notice, as you hear these words again, how Jeremiah responds to God's call, and hold your own reaction alongside his.
In these last moments of prayer, respond honestly to the God who calls you in this way.


You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.