St. Patrick's Breastplate pt. II

I know that this post is only going to scratch the surface of the most recent post. As I keep reading through the words, I can't help but notice how deep the lyrics go. There is so much God, Bible, Jesus, Holiness, in this hymn it sometimes just overwhelms me. That previous sentence is even just a minor description of the complexity of the words. It is an attempt in the next few moments, to reflect on a few lines of the hymn.

"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 in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me."

I absolutely love the way he speaks about Christ here. In simple turns, St. Patrick wants Christ everywhere! Christ will lead him, and Christ will follow. Christ will be his earth and Christ will be his sky. His escort will be Christ. He does not stop just in positioning Christ, he continues on to say that when people speak of me, they will speak of Christ. If they see me, they will see Christ and if they hear me, they will hear Christ. This could serve as a fantastic prayer, and also serve as a way for us to examine Christ in our own lives. 

"I arise today

Through God's strength to pilot me:

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak for me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's host to save me

From snares of devils,

From temptations of vices,

From everyone who shall wish me ill,

Afar and near,

Alone and in multitude."

In the same way that St. Patrick wants to place Christ in all aspects of his life, here I feel he wants to draw upon nature of God. Alone, we stand no chance again "the snares of the devils" and "temptations of vices," but God grants us the power to do so.  Through God's wisdom, way, ear, etc. we receive a protection from such things.