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You observe days and months and seasons and years! _{Gal 4:10 (ESV)}

This year Saint Patrick’s day falls on the Monday of Holy week, the week leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. It is ironic, in a sense, that this year the day that was set aside to honor the death of one man, Saint Patrick, sets off a week that ends in the death of one man, Jesus. The week starts on a celebration and ends on one as well. Granted the latter being more significant then the former but none-the-less two celebrations indeed bookend this week.

To the Christians, Resurrection Sunday is the grandest of all celebrations for it was on this day that Jesus arose from the dead, to release all those who where held captive by sin. To a true Irishman, Saint Patrick’s day is a day to celebrate being freed from paganism. The one celebrates a death while the other celebrates a life. Saint Patrick, although credited with Christianizing Ireland over his 30 year ministry, can not compare to Jesus who brought Christianity to the whole world during his 3 and a half year ministry.

Posthumously both received acclaim as being men of God, but only Jesus can rightfully claim the title King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Similarities and contrasts exist for both celebrations. On the one hand we have a nation, Ireland, celebrating the liberation from moral depravity through the influence of the Catholic church and it’s missionary Patrick. On the other hand we see the celebration of life from death, experienced in the life of a born again believer through the influence of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Both were persecuted by those who hated them. For Saint Patrick it was the imprisonment at the hands of Irish Marauders, and later hatred by Celtic Druids, who resented his effective work at converting their followers to Christianity. Jesus too was sought after by the Scribes and Pharisees of his day who plotted to arrest him.
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