"David, the Patron Saint of Wales, is a saint for our times"- A Reflection

Rev'd Dyfrig Lloyd, our Welsh Language and Ecumenism Officer and Area Dean of Cardiff Deanery, reflects on St David.

I would like to suggest that David, the Patron Saint of Wales, is a saint for our times. Even though he lived in the 6th Century, there is something very contemporary and challenging about his message that speaks keenly to our context today nearly one thousand five hundred years later.

We don’t always appreciate that the age of the saints, when the Christian faith took root in our land, was a very turbulent and dangerous time. The retreat of the Roman Empire from Britain in the year 410, after four hundred years of rule, left the land divided and defenseless. As a result, the tribes within began bickering and fighting amongst themselves for power, and the Irish and Saxons took full advantage of the disorder for their own ends. It was an unstable time with people living in fear of violence, without much peace and little hope. Reading between the lines of the Life of David by Rhigyfarch, we can see the shadows of these divisions, threats and chaos that plagued the land.

It is hard to believe that it was in such a turbulent age as this that the gospel truly took root in Wales. Yes, the saints had an unshakable faith and there is no denying that they had a pioneering spirit, but more importantly, I suspect, was their perseverance in the face of such chaos and uncertainty armed only with the apparently powerless power of love so central to the Christian gospel. Small were the number of faithful who were a part of the Christian communities founded by the early saints such as David. Their futures were uncertain, but their faith in the transforming power of the gospel was unceasing.

Understanding St David’s context better helps shed light on the importance of his words for us today. When we sometimes feel hopeless, or the future feels uncertain, or we feel we don’t have the resources needed to meet the challenges, St David’s words encourage us simply to persevere in faith, hope and love as followers of Jesus Christ.

“Be joyful, keep your faith and your creed, and do the little things that you have heard and seen of me”.

God, creator of heaven and earth,

we thank you for your servant David,

for the example of his faithful life

and for his tireless work of planting the good news of Jesus Christ

deep in our land.

Help us in our life and work,

in the face of success and disappointment,

to follow the example of David,

to persevere with joy in our faith

and in doing the little things

for the good of your kingdom,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.