Green Pasture and Lost Sheep
A look at the life of Saint Patrick
“We Jews have, indeed, good cause to rejoice in the happiness and well-being of the Irish people, for in the words of the Psalmist: ‘our lives have fallen in happy places.’ Providence, in its mercy, has thrown in our lot with a people whose creeds of faith and liberty shine forth brilliantly from the annals of its sad and glorious history—a people that may justly take pride in the fact that not a drop of innocent Jewish blood has ever been shed on its soil.[1]”
Some say the luck of the Irish is in their soil. With more than 60 percent of it consisting of what is called brown earth, it’s no wonder the Emerald Isle is known for its 40 shades of green. It is a fertile county boasting of vast pasture lands.
In these very pasture lands during the 4th century a young man named Patrick surrendered his life to the God of Israel. He was a captive from Britain, forced into slavery by the Druids at 16 years old. During his years in slavery, he tended sheep for his master, hundreds of miles from his home. The quietness of this task left him with ample time to pray and seek the Lord. “In his autobiography, Confessions, Patrick wrote, “…the Lord opened my senses to my unbelief, so that, though late in the day, I might remember my many sins; and accordingly I might turn to the Lord my God with all my heart.”[2]
This converted shepherd slave was brought into God’s heavenly fold. Six years later Patrick’s feet could be seen dashing across miles of Ireland’s verdant pastureland in a daring escape. Once safely home he knew he would not be there for long. His heart had enlarged to encompass the lost and perishing souls of the Emerald Isle. He had forgiven his captors and, with his life devoted to God, he set out on a mission to bring the truth of the gospel to the lost pagans in Ireland. Saint Patrick gave up his life in pursuit of sharing the Good News with his enemies.
Ironically, hundreds of years later in the late 1800’s, a young Jewish refugee stood on Ireland’s dirt road in Limerick peddling his small stock of religious pictures of popes, Patrick and other saints. Louis Goldberg had fled the pogroms of Russia and the surrounding areas, in search of a peaceful life.[3] Ireland seemed like a safe harbor. Louis was a well-educated, hardworking man and a cohen (descendant of the priestly tribe of Levi). His hard work paid off when he could provide safe passage for his mother and two brothers to join him from Lithuania.
Unfortunately, in 1904 a sermon by the spiritual director of the Arch Confraternity of the Sacred Heart catapulted an attack of the Jewish refugees in that area. In his unbiblical message the director falsely accused the Jewish people of being “Christ killers” and causing poverty in their community by swindling people.
Louis was beaten during the Limerick pogrom and his store boycotted. This led him to move his growing family to Cork. Though the small Jewish community was growing, so was the antisemitism. Louis and his family fought for years for their right to exist in Ireland. His eleventh son Yoel Goldberg (later name Gerald Goldberg) grew up to be a prominent lawyer and politician. Later in his life, in 1977, Gerald acquired the title of the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Cork. His tenacious manner benefited all those around him.[4]
As the avalanche of antisemitism continues in Ireland[5], it will force out the very people God has used to bless the world (Genesis 12:2). In turn they will deprive themselves of one of the most industrious people groups used by God to display His nature.
Sadly, I believe Saint Patrick would weep over the spiritual blindness and hatred displayed in the current Irish media propaganda toward the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel. For a country whose patron is Saint Patrick, you would hope they would consider his life and follow in his footsteps. The same grace extended to the inhabitants of Ireland centuries ago should be the same grace extended to the lost Jewish community today. Patrick’s feet were swift to return to a people who abused him, bringing the life-giving message of forgiveness through the Jewish Messiah and the promise of eternal safe pasture. We should follow in his footsteps.
“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” (Romans 10:12-15).
Written by Kori, Life in Messiah staff
In your view, how does Patrick’s example of loving one’s enemies – and desiring their salvation – apply to us as followers of Messiah Jesus today?
What is God asking us to risk for the sake of the gospel?
Please pray today that God would move in the hearts of the Jewish people and those who hate them, to draw many to saving faith.
Endnotes:
[1] https://www.historyireland.com/the-limerick-pogrom-1904/.
[2] https://www.persecution.com/2021-03-st-patrick/.
[3] https://www.historyireland.com/the-limerick-pogrom-1904/.
[4] https://kids.kiddle.co/Gerald_Goldberg.
[5] https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/anti-semitism-in-ireland/ ; https://www.irishtimes.com/video/video/2023/11/29/anti-semitism-in-ireland-theres-been-a-huge-uptick/.