My Thoughts on 01/03/2021

Happy feast day to all who are Welsh or who have welsh blood as we celebrate Saint David or Dewid. He was, we think, born in 520 of noble parents in South Wales and educated by St. Paulinus, the disciple of St. Germanus of Auxerre.

In the office of Readings today we read an exert from a life of St David by Rhygyferch which was written 500 years later. One story I love is when he was preaching before a huge crowd at the Synod of Llanddewi Brefi, someone at the back complained of being unable to hear. Miraculously, the ground beneath David’s feet rose up so high that everyone could see and hear him. The Synod was so impressed, they made him Archbishop.

His last words to his followers, were “Be joyful, keep the faith, do the little things you have seen me do”. As the Anglican bishop of St David said last year of these words: “If we think this sounds arrogant, we are missing the point…He offers himself as as a living example of how a flawed, sinful human being can draw daily on the grace of of God, be rebuked and inspired by the words of scripture and the words of others, and live, using the twin walking poles of Christian discipleship, repentance and love, repentance and love, repentance and love.”

The gospel for today’s feast is from St Matthew. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.”

Loving Lord, we thank you for the wisdom and gift of eloquence of St David. May he remain for us an example of prayer and pastoral zeal. Though his intercession may we render you joyful praise through our daily living of the gospel.