So then, after writing the rule of the saints, and their customs and devotion, Brendan returned to Bishop Erc, and received order from him…It was after this therefore that there grew up in his heart a great love to the Lord, and he desired to leave his land and his country, his parents and his patrimony. He requested earnestly of the Lord that He would grant him some secret country, far removed from men.
– The Life of Brendan of Clonfert
But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.
– Romans 15.23, 24
A calling from the Lord
Some time passed between Brendan’s ordination to ministry and his journey over the western sea. From other sources, notably, a document entitled The Twelve Apostles of Ireland, we learn that Brendan quickly came to be recognized as one of the foremost saints of mid-6th century Ireland. It’s not clear—to me, at least—what the nature of Brendan’s initial call was. His Life explains that he only founded the monastery at Clonfert after his adventures on the ocean.
It appears that Brendan attached himself to the ministry of Finnian of Clonard, one of the most renowned saints and disciple-makers of that day. At one point, during a feast hosted by Finnian, the saints had a joint vision of what is called in The Twelve Apostles the Land of Promise, but in Brendan’s Life the Promised Land of the Saints. It became clear that one of this venerable company was being summoned for a special under-taking, to seek this Land by sailing west on the vast ocean.
Lots were cast, and the lot fell to another Brendan of that same company. But all agreed he was too important as “Their perfect sage and senior” to send him away. Immediately, Brendan volunteered for the work. The Twelve Apostles relates his words:
“As I am the youngest here now,”
Said Brendan the younger aloud,
“Let what shall come of it fall on me;
It is I that will go on the ocean.”
This opportunity coincided perfectly with what Brendan was feeling in his soul and longing for the Lord to do for him.
Increasing our sphere
We know that Paul’s inclination was always to press on to new places of service for the Lord. This is how he described working his own “sphere” of influence in 2 Corinthians 10.13-18, and it’s what we see him planning in his letter to the Romans. He’d never been to Spain, but Spain was there, just a little way past Rome, and Paul intended to go.
Every believer should want to be an agent of God’s grace as far and wide as possible. Meeting new people, taking on new duties, reaching out beyond our comfort zone to help as we are needed—both Paul and Brendan demonstrated this understanding of their discipleship, and so must we.
Every believer has a calling from the Lord. That calling is first to the Kingdom and glory of God (1 Thess. 2.12). This calling defines everything else we do. All our waking moments, as we devote them to the Lord, can be a means whereby the grace of God reaches to more and more people (2 Cor. 4.15). And when new opportunities arise before us, we must be willing, as the Lord leads, to go through those open doors, trusting the Lord to give us whatever skills and resources we may require.
We should pray daily that God will give us strength and a willing heart to take on whatever new situations or opportunities He may be pleased to set before us, crying to the Lord for new and secret countries where we may work for His Kingdom and glory.
“But I’ve never done that before” must not be our first response. Rather, like Isaiah—and Brendan and Paul—let us cry out to the Lord, as He calls unto us, “Here am I. Send me.”
For Reflection
1. Do you pray regularly for new opportunities to serve the Lord? Should you?
2. What can you do to make sure your heart is always ready to serve wherever or however the Lord chooses?
Psalm 25.1-5
(Festal Song: Rise Up, O Men of God)
I lift my soul to You; O Lord, in You I trust.
Let me not come to shame, nor let my foes o’er me exult.
All they who wait on You shall never come to shame.
Yet they to shame shall come who stand against Your holy Name.
Make me to know Your ways, teach me Your paths, O Lord!
My Savior, all day long I wait and seek You in Your Word.
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our Read Moore podcast is concentrating on praying the psalms to seek revival—why we should and what we might expect. Our current ReVision series, “Pray for Your Church”, enters the home stretch now by leading us to pray for our church’s impact. In our daily Scriptorium column we are looking at ways Old Testament expectations of Jesus were fulfilled in the Gospels. The theme for this week is “Jesus as Lord and Lamb.” If you’d like to learn more about the monastic rules of ancient Ireland, download our free PDF, Living to Rule, from our bookstore.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
