.

It would have been easy to write about St. Patrick today. That’s what I’ve done on this day in past years. But green beer and the narrow perspective of cultural Catholicism seemed a bit trite this year.

I’m all for the mid-Lent party-day, even thought Patrick doesn’t warrant feast status in 2026 Aotearoa New Zealand. But when wars and poverty headline every news bulletin it’s time to look beyond the wearing of the green as a sign which points us not to Patrick but to the human default setting which is Christ with me.

And significantly, most significantly, this is the heart of the Gospel reading for the feast: the reign of God is very near. That’s the message of a Christian missionary. God is near.

“The kingdom of God is very near to you”.

And this conviction is the origin and the heart of the faith of the Celtic people.

But once a culture discovers the followers of Jesus it’s not long before the secular authorities hijack Jesus and reduce the Christian message of love to a regime of earthly politics and oppressive regulations.

When I read that God is very near, for some reason I thought of being taught by a well-intentioned but missing-the-point teacher that the best posture of prayer, especially while kneeling rigidly upright, was hands joined with palms and fingers flat together.

Nothing wrong with that. These two facing hands are certainly close.

Our very near God is close, but not just close.

In Jesus God is desiring to be intermeshed with us, individually and communally tangled that we two might be one.

And that takes me to the great prayer attributed to Patrick, his Breastplate.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me

And here is the complete prayer with a link below to hear it sung.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun
Radiance of moon
Splendour of fire
Speed of lightning
Swiftness of wind
Depth of the sea
Stability of earth
Firmness of rock

I arise to-day
Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s eyes to look before me
God’s wisdom to guide me
God’s way to lie before me
God’s shield to protect me
From all who shall wish me ill
Afar and anear
Alone and in a multitude

Against every cruel merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left
Christ when I lie down
Christ when I sit down
Christ when I arise
Christ to shield me
Christ in the heart
of every one who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth
of every one who speaks of me

 

 

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Cafe Gatherings

Take an initiative – send me your first name with a cafe location, date and time, turn up and with whoever else turns up chat about your experience of Christ in your life. Write FFF on a serviette and place in the centre of the table so others can find you. Send your initiative to john@fff.org.nz

Thursday 19 March 2026 10.00am, Stumble Inn, 200 Mangorei Road, New Plymouth Joan .