Words of Light and Hope from Tony Hawes

Words of Light and Hope from Tony Hawes.                                                  

On March 2nd the Church remembers St. David the Patron Saint of Wales. He lived in the sixth century, was a monk, and was a leading figure in the early Welsh Church. He founded a monastic community, living a simple austere life in the Celtic tradition, which connected the people of Wales with Ireland, Cornwall, France and the Scottish Isles. Their days were centred on prayer, work in the fields (pulling the plough themselves) and study. They ate one meal a day of bread and herbs or vegetables, and drank only water. David drew many followers from all over Wales, and he travelled a great deal to preach.

His last words to his followers, still repeated to this day, were

“Be joyful, keep the faith, do the little things you have seen me do.”       St. David’s Cathedral.

Prayer.

Teach us, Our God and King,                                                                                                                                                                                                          to love you in each and every person,                                                                                                                                                                                            to love by noticing the little things,                                                                                                                                                                                                to love by cherishing the little things,                                                                                                                                                                                              to love by serving in little things,                                                                                                                                                                                                   to pray by offering the little things……Amen.

Great God, who called your servant David to be an apostle                                                                                                                                                    and parent in God to the people of Wales:                                                                                                                                                                                    fire us with his faith, clothe us in his joy,                                                                                                                                                                                     and bring forth fresh fruit in our lives and lands……Amen.

Ray Simpson.