Chapter 14. Ireland at Last. What a strange feeling this is, Patrick said to Loman, as their boat skimmed over the choppy Irish sea. I can't help but think about the other time I traveled by boat to Ireland. Those have to be pretty unpleasant memories, Loman responded as he adjusted the sails. I can't even begin to imagine what a nightmare that day must have been. How old did you say you were at the time? Sixteen. Do you think your master is still alive? Crispus asked. I doubt it.
He was at least fifty when I escaped from Ireland, and that was twenty-five years ago. If his sons hear you're in Ireland, will they come to reclaim you? Loman inquired. Perhaps. I've been wondering the same thing. All I know is that my life is in God's hands. I firmly believe that He won't allow me to be killed or enslaved until His mission through me is accomplished. The next day, Patrick and his men landed on a deserted beach on the northeastern coast of Ireland.
After thanking God for their safe journey, they set up camp near the shore. They enjoyed a simple meal that evening, sang psalms together, prayed at length, and finally went to sleep. Arising before dawn the next morning, they prayed for more than an hour, asking for God's guidance as they set out to bring the gospel to the Irish. After a light breakfast, they began their journey, spotting a sheep trail that served as a road. Soon they met an elderly peasant man carrying a large bundle of sticks on his back.
Speaking in Gaelic, Patrick approached the man. Greetings. We've come from Britain to bring an important message of good news to the people of Ireland. Can you tell me the name of the king of this tuatha? The name of the king is Lowetha, the old man replied in a wavering voice. And where does he live? Patrick asked. Pointing his bony finger down the path, he said, just follow this road and you'll come to his house soon enough.
Patrick thanked the peasant, and he and his band followed the meandering road in the direction the man had indicated. After they had journeyed about a mile, Loman suddenly exclaimed, Patrick, look on top of the hill ahead, armed warriors! He pointed to three statuesque warriors, spears in hand, who stood watching the small band. Are we in danger? Of course we're in danger, Patrick replied. We're in serious danger, but it's absolutely essential that none of us show any sign of fear.
Keep your heads up and continue to walk straight ahead with a brisk pace. Loman, start praying and don't stop no matter what happens ahead. I'll lead the rest of us in singing a psalm. In a loud, clear voice, Patrick began singing. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God. The others, except for Loman, soon joined in the familiar words of Psalm 59. Finding their courage in God, the army of spiritual warriors continued their advance, singing and praying as they went.
As they rounded a hill, they found their way blocked by the three brawny warriors, who stared at them menacingly. Who are you, and what do you want? One of the warriors growled at them. We are ambassadors of a great king, Patrick replied without wavering. We have come across the sea in a mission of peace to bring a message of good news to Lowetha, your king. The three warriors hesitated for a few seconds, taken aback both by Patrick's boldness and by the nature of his mission.
Finally, one of them bellowed, Go away, or else our king will cut off your heads and hang them above his doorway. Go tell Lowetha that we do not fear his threats, Patrick replied firmly, staring the warriors straight in the eyes. Again, the warriors hesitated, not sure of what to make of these strange visitors. Finally, they huddled together. This could be a trick, one of them posited in a hushed voice. Yes, but if they're who they say they are, Lowetha will have our heads if we turn them away, another replied.
Let's search them for weapons, the third warrior suggested. If they're unarmed, we'll take them to Lowetha. If they're armed, we'll chase them away. The others quickly agreed with this plan. The warriors briskly searched Patrick and his men along with their baggage. They, of course, found no weapons other than utility knives with the food supplies. Follow me, one of the warriors finally grunted to Patrick, motioning with his arm.
So the small band continued up the road, with one of the Irish warriors leading the way and the other two bringing up the rear. When they finally reached the king's longhouse, one of the warriors told the visitors to remain outside while he spoke to Lowetha. Patrick and his men waited anxiously, praying silently with great fervor. Do you think Lowetha will receive us? Loman asked anxiously. Or will he kill us and decorate the doorposts with our heads?
I can't believe God would finally bring us to Ireland only to have us killed the first day, Patrick replied calmly. However, as to whether or not this king will hear us, that's in God's hands. Eventually, the warrior returned and announced that the king would receive them that night at a feast. He then led Patrick and the others to a small hut where they could rest until the evening. That night, a servant led Patrick and his men inside Lowetha's longhouse.
When he entered the great hall, Patrick cast his observant eyes around the room. In the center stood a long oak table, which was little more than a series of planks of rough-hewn wood from the forest. It rested on supports that raised the planks about a foot off of the floor. Although there was no cloth on the table, it seemed already prepared for the evening meal. There were no benches, chairs, or other seats. Animal skins spread around the table would serve for seating.
The room had no ceiling, only the rafters and thatch of the roof. At one end of the room stood a massive fireplace. It had no chimney, leaving the smoke to find its way out through the rafters and thatch. Glancing overhead, Patrick noticed that the beams were encrusted with the black varnish of soot. The floor was nothing more than earth and lime, pounded into a hard substance, covered in some places with animal skins. Several domestics were scurrying about, making final preparations for the great feast.
Soon, servants entered the room carrying wooden vessels stacked high with food. And what a feast it was! At one end of the table, wooden platters were heaped with the meats of a freshly killed boar. There were also platters of venison, mutton, and rabbits. Elsewhere on the large table, there were plates of fish, bowls of butter, huge loaves of barley bread, and pots of honey. As the guest of honor this evening, Patrick sat cross-legged on the floor facing the doorway. King Lowetha sat to his left.
He was a tall, red-faced man with a huge drooping mustache that trapped the food he was eating. Gray locks of unkempt hair hung down to his shoulders from his balding head. He was dressed in colorful red and blue checkered pants and a bright scarlet tunic that reached down to his upper thighs. The tunic was held around his slim waist with an ox hide belt, ornately decorated with golden scroll work. A long emerald-green cape covered his back and was held around his neck with a gold brooch.
His powerful arms were adorned with golden torques, worn as bracelets. Most of the other men were dressed similarly. The only eating utensil the men used was an occasional dagger to stab a piece of meat. Otherwise, the people were content to eat with their hands. The master and guest of honor drank from silver goblets. Other guests drank from bronze cups or drinking horns that were passed around from guest to guest. The women sat at a similarly arranged table, and they ate in the same fashion as the men.
Most of them were dressed in long, flowing, brightly colored dresses, some of which were made of silk. Golden embroidery embellished the hems and necks of many of the dresses. All the women wore their hair in finely twisted braids or elaborate coiffure. They were arrayed with gold or silver torques around their necks and jangling bracelets around their wrists. At both tables, the guests were engaged in lively discussions, and the room often rang with laughter.
As the evening wore on, heated quarrels broke out at both tables. One of the young warriors seemed to be jeering at another warrior seated at the king's table. Suddenly, the two men sprang to their feet and lunged at each other with drawn daggers. Probably one of them would have killed the other if the king had not intervened, entreating both men to sit down. Lowetha then stood and announced to his guests, We have an important visitor with us tonight.
He has come to us from across the sea, bringing a message of good news to us from a great king. Motioning to Patrick, the king continued, Stand and tell us about your mission. He then sat down and gestured to a servant to refill his goblet. Patrick stood up and surveyed the crowd before him, silently praying to God for the right words to speak. Your king has spoken correctly, Patrick began in a loud voice. I have come from across the sea, from Britain.
But the king I represent is far greater than any king or governor of Britain. He is more powerful than even the emperor of the Romans. Patrick paused briefly, letting the import of his words sink in. The guests had now grown quiet and were listening with eager anticipation. I have been sent here by a king who not only governs the whole earth, but the entire universe as well. His name is Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God. Yet he once lived on earth as a man, just like you and me.
He came to earth to bring us good news. Good news for everyone. Good news for the Romans. Good news for the Britons. Good news for the Irish. Patrick paused once again. What is this good news? Lowetha asked aloud. The good news is that the gods you have worshipped and feared are not gods at all. They are merely demons. I'm talking about Tuatha Dé Danann, Lugh, Belenos, and the hundreds of other gods that you worship and that my ancestors used to worship. Tell me, how would you describe Belenos?
Do you see him as a loving father, or is he someone you fear? He's no loving father, Fedelmid, one of the king's sons blurted out. Belenos is lord. He is master. We dare not say anything against him or he will punish us. We must constantly appease him or he will bring curses down on us. What if I told you that this Jesus I speak of can give you power over Belenos? That instead of fearing Belenos, he will fear you? What if I told you that the subjects of Jesus have power over all your gods?
And not just your gods, but the ancient gods of the Romans and of all the other nations on earth? What if I told you that the subjects of Jesus no longer have to offer any sacrifices to appease the gods, yet the gods are powerless to punish them? That indeed would be good news. Lowetha agreed. But that's not all, Patrick continued. What if I told you that above all of these so-called gods, there is an almighty God? He has no name. We, the subjects of Jesus, simply call him Father.
We use that name because that's what he is. He loves us more tenderly than even our earthly fathers. In fact, he loves us so much that he gave his only Son to die for us. Your gods demand that you offer human sacrifices to them, but the almighty God gave his beloved Son as a sacrifice for us. His Son, Jesus Christ, died not only for those people who worship him, but for all mankind, including the Irish.
The truth of the matter is that there is no other god, nor has there ever been, nor shall there be hereafter, but this God of whom I speak. That is, the Father, together with his Son, Jesus Christ. The Father is unbegotten and without beginning. His Son, Jesus Christ, has always existed with him. Jesus has created all things visible and invisible. Yet he became man in order to save us and to conquer death.
The Father raised his Son from the dead and has given him a kingdom that will crush and bring an end to all of the kingdoms on earth. Those people who serve him will eventually become kings and reign with him in the heavens, and he will return someday, perhaps very soon. Even now, he gives us power through the Holy Spirit. But what about the sun? One of the king's attendants asked. Surely the sun is God as well. No, Patrick responded emphatically. The sun is not God.
Rather, it rises each day for us at the command of the Father. The sun will never reign, nor will its splendor last. And those who worship it will never reign either. Instead, they will forfeit eternal life. In contrast, those who believe in and worship the true Son, Christ, will inherit eternal life. He guards, protects, and provides for those who willingly serve him. His Father adopts all of them as his sons and daughters. What you say is wonderful beyond belief, Fedelm, one of the king's daughters, volunteered.
But how do we know it's true? I'm living proof that what I say is true, Patrick responded. You may be wondering how I've come to speak your language fluently. The reason is that when I was sixteen, I was captured by Irish warriors and sold as a slave here in Ireland to a man named Milchu. I worked as his slave for six years near the wood of Foclut. But then my God intervened and told me to run away because he had provided a ship for me. I did as my God directed, and I have been a free man ever since.
Some of the guests gasped when they heard that Patrick was a runaway slave. Many of Patrick's listeners began murmuring among themselves, and two of Lowetha's warriors rose to seize Patrick. However, with a broad gesture from both of his arms, Lowetha silenced the crowd. His warriors immediately sat back down. You are either the most courageous man I've ever met, the king observed. Or else you are an utter fool. Right now, I'm not sure which. I don't know if this Milchu is still living or not.
But when he or his sons find out that you're back in Ireland, they will kill you. Of that, I'm certain. I have no fear of either Milchu or his sons. I came to Ireland to die, but I know that the king I serve will not let Milchu or anyone else harm me until the work he has sent me to accomplish has been finished. Of that, I'm certain. After a dramatic pause, Patrick added, Let me explain why I'm so certain. I'm certain because the Lord my God showed mercy to me even when I was young and ignorant.
He watched over me before I knew him. Before I knew good from evil, he protected me and consoled me as a father would his son. Patrick went on to describe in detail the dreams he had had while serving Milchu and how God had miraculously directed his escape right to the cove where a boat was waiting. He told the crowd about his second captivity to the ship's crew and how he was delivered from them. He related how his God had supplied food for the starving men, which their gods had been unable to do.
When I finally got back to my home in Britain, I never wanted to set foot in Ireland again. But my king, Jesus Christ, told me to return here to bring you the good news of his kingdom. You see, it was my God who sent me to Ireland in the first place. He sent me here to learn your language and customs so that later I could return as his messenger to the Irish. And now I cannot keep silence about him, for he has bestowed so many favors and graces upon me.
Patrick's voice was becoming husky from speaking, and he asked for a drink of water. He sipped the water slowly while the assembled guests spoke to one another in hushed tones about the incredible things they were hearing. God is opening their hearts. He's opening their hearts, Patrick said to himself. Thank you, Father. He finished his drink and then told the group how Jesus had prophesied hundreds of years before that this good news would reach the Irish.
As I've stated, he said that he would return to the earth, but he also said that first the good news of his kingdom would be preached in all of the inhabited earth. He told his followers, I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost ends of the earth. That is now happening. Ireland is at the end of the earth. Jesus knew in advance that one of his servants would bring this message to you so that you can become adopted children of his Father, just as I have.
I would like to become an adopted son of this Father you speak of. A guest at the table interjected. How can I do this? It's simple, yet very difficult. It's only for the courageous. Jesus accepts no cowards as his subjects. But the hour is now late. With the permission of your king, I will tell you tomorrow how you, in fact, how all of you can become adopted children of the Father of the universe.