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Good morning and Happy St David’s Day! 

On his deathbed, St David, the Patron Saint of Wales, commended his followers to ‘be faithful in the little things.’ 

Jesus said something similar in his parable about a man who, before going on a journey, entrusted varying amounts of money to three servants. On his return, the two who had received larger sums reported how they had put the money to work and increased his investment. To each the master responded, ‘Well done! You’ve been faithful when trusted with small things – now I’ll trust you with much greater responsibilities!’

But then there’s the third servant. He had merely dug a hole in the ground to keep the money safe. He returns it to his master saying ‘Sir, I knew you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and so I was afraid and hid your money – here it is – take what is yours.’

Not surprisingly, he’s condemned. At the very least, he could have deposited the money with bankers.

Jesus tells parables to get us thinking on many levels, and so I’m prompted to reflect more deeply on why the third servant got it so wrong.

I see that we should invest and grow what God entrusts to us – whether wealth, abilities, experience, or anything else. And, as St David taught, nothing is too small to begin with.

I’m also reminded we shouldn’t be motivated by misplaced fear about God. The God of love is not a small-minded and vindictive master. God’s desire and delight is for us to make the most of our lives, as flourishing, contributing members of our communities and wider world.

Lord God, may we know your joyful encouragement to be faithful in the small things that today brings, so that we may be faithful too in the big questions that come our way. Amen.