By the way, I think the real Patrick agreed with this glorious doctrine of God’s providence as the Lord’s hand guided him once again to Ireland after his escape from six years of slavery. Why did Patrick return, facing grave danger and fierce persecution? Ironically, to free the Irish from their superstitions through the power of the gospel!

Only in the Lord’s perfect plan would I find myself on a cold, damp day sitting on a bench inside the McDonald’s Playland, reading Calvin’s Institutes. That in and of itself is quite ironic – reading one of the treasures of Western Civilization in a restaurant that some consider to be the single most destructive force against American high culture (not to mention health and nutrition!). The irony continued, though, when I opened up where I left off last week, to a section Calvin entitled, “There is no such thing as fortune or chance,” especially when I realized the date: March 17!

Yes, today we remember a mythical St. Patrick, the one who drove all snakes from the Emerald Isle.  We also celebrate the “luck of the Irish” by wearing green, hanging shamrocks, kissing the Blarney Stone, and dreaming of pots of gold at the end of rainbows.  What a day to be reminded that there is no such thing as luck!

Calvin expresses it this way:  “…we must know that God’s providence, as it is taught in Scripture, is opposed to fortune and fortuitous happenings…..Carnal reason ascribes all such happenings, whether prosperous or adverse, to fortune. But anyone who has been taught by Christ’s lips that all the hairs of his head are numbered (Matt. 10:30) will look farther afield for a cause, and will consider that all events are governed by God’s secret plan” (Calvin’s Institutes: 1.16.2).

Listen, I’m surely not against wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day (legend has it that I wore three distinct shades of green on March 17, 1979, when I was in the first grade, starting with a forest green turtle neck, Kelly green corduroy pants, and mint green socks – since there are no pictures, I’m saying that story is as mythical as the Leprechaun!).

However, on this day, as any other, let us affirm the truth of God’s fatherly care for us in His acts of providence, that He “works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11), to the praise of His glory and for the good of His people (Ro. 8:28). Let us also, on this St. Patrick’s Day 2014, exalt the Lord Jesus Christ through whose powerful providence, “all things hold together” (Col. 1:17).

By the way, I think the real Patrick agreed with this glorious doctrine of God’s providence as the Lord’s hand guided him once again to Ireland after his escape from six years of slavery. Why did Patrick return, facing grave danger and fierce persecution? Ironically, to free the Irish from their superstitions through the power of the gospel!

During his darkest hours he wrote a prayer that is often called, ‘The Breastplate of St. Patrick.” Here is the most famous stanza:

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. Praise to the Lord of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord [1] 

Sounds like a pretty accurate understanding of Christ-centered providence to me and for that reason, I’m proud to be wearing green today!

Dr. Robert D. Cathcart, Jr., is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and serves as Pastor of Friendship Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Laurens, S.C.