The sermon I offered today reminds me of the devotion entitled, From Fear to Love.  I began by talking about a boy born about 387 AD: Patricius.   Pat for short.  An Italian boy born into a wealthy family.  His dad was given a high position in government and they moved to Scotland when Pat was very young.  Although Pat's family was devoutly Catholic, he began to allow the things that pull a young man from the faith to influence his mind and spirit.  By 16, he had all but abandoned the faith.

At 16, he was kidnapped and sold into the largest white slavery trade of the day.  He found himself tending sheep for a tribal chief, Milchu, who treated him every bit the slave.  When Milchu was unhappy with his work, he just wouldn't feed him.  Sometimes Pat had to eat what he was feeding the animals just to have something.  For six years Pat was treated this way.  In this time, he began to call out to God.  In his own words, he must have prayed a hundred times in the daytime and at least that much at night.

One day, Pat had a dream that if he went to the ocean, God would rescue him.  Escaping, he travelled 200 miles to the coast, where he discovered sailors ready to set sail.  In a few days he was back in Scotland and reunited with his family. 

Pat did not abandon his newly found faith in God and God's love.  He studied to become a priest.  18 years later, having studied and proven to be a good student and becoming ordained, Pat had another dream.  "Come back to Erin.  We need you!"

So, Pat, whom we call Patrick, went back to Ireland. He was the first Christian missionary to leave the parameters of the Roman Empire.  He was the first successful missionary at any rate.  His years spent with the pagan, tribalistic people of Ireland gave him what no missionary had before: a mastery of the language, an understanding of the culture, a love for the people.  They weren't just "heathens" that needed to be converted.  They were people; God crafted souls.  God loved them and wanted them to respond to God's love.  God loved the people of Ireland through Patrick.  Through the power of a prayer-filled life and a heart full of God's love for his former captors, Patrick broke the power of influence of demons and pagan practices all throughout Ireland.

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul writes: "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a a slave to all that I might win the more..."  Patrick became a Celt to save the Celts.  Paul writes just before this: For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion: for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel..."

And what does this gospel look like, that Paul writes about and Patrick lives?

Mark 1: 29-39:

What do you think of when you think of "Jesus"?  High, holy man?  Halo-like glow?  Supernatural teachings of high spritual order? 

After leaving the synagogue, immediately Simon speaks to Jesus about his sick mother-in-law.  Jesus ministers to her need out of love.

So, back to teaching...but then, that evening they began to bring to him those who were demon possessed. The whole city was gathered outside the door. Jesus ministers to their need out of love.

In the morning, this high, holy man Jesus, at last begins to practice the actions of the truly religious.  He goes to a lonely place and was praying...

...when He is interrupted by Simon and his friends who were hunting for Him.  "Everybody is looking for you..."

Jesus tells them it's time to move on to the next town; to start the process all over again. So He goes "preaching and casting out the demons."

What is the gospel that Paul speaks of; the "good news" preached by Jesus, Paul and Patrick?  It is love of God that delivers you from whatever holds you in bondage; brought to you by one who is bound to you-- a servant to you --because of God's amazing love. 

According to Paul, to be freed from people and law and ritual and the power of darkness is to be released into your custody.  This is what it means to preach and partake in the gospel.

From Fear to Love:

Grant to every child the joyous light of heaven,

here on earth,

the gift of true inner peace,

the liberty of living as your child,

and victory over all those forces that separate us from your unconditional love.

Help us to strive for the high mark of our calling in Christ. 

Help us to move from sleep through fear

and into the depth of yoru love for us all.

Amen.  (Praying in the Wesleyan Spirit by Paul Chicote, p.34-35)