Phil Wyman: Dim Saesneg

Advent December 8th: Saint Cynidr’s Day
Philippians 2:5-11
Stepping down to serve

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

One of the great mysteries of the Gospel is God’s humility. God steps down from the throne of heaven to become a servant to humanity. As a nurse He heals, as a waiter He feeds, as a baby-sitter He watches the children, and as a teacher He teaches. This is at the heart of true missional activity. The missionally-minded person is a servant to humanity, just as God has become a servant. Our politicians are called public servants, and ministers, but our experience often teaches us that the so-called servants can be power hungry and self-serving. It was not this way with Christ, and it should not be this way with the missional servant. We have not been sent to serve our own plans and desires, but rather to serve others.

December 8 is Saint Cynidr’s Day. Cynidr is a 6th Century Welsh saint, and appears to be the son of Gwynlliw and Gwladys and brother to one of the Wales most famous saints, Cadog. Although, this is doubted by some, and perhaps the term brother is a formula reference expressing alliance between their churches. Like many of the earliest Welsh saints, it seems Cynidr came from a powerful family, and stepped into a position of servanthood as a servant of the Gospel.

Prayer: Lord, Teach me to walk in the humility of a good servant like Your Son Jesus. When I think I should be served, help me to serve. When I look for attention, let me give attention to others. When I want to sit upon the throne of my personal expectations about how I should be treated by others, help me to step down and treat others in the way I would desire to be treated. Like Saints Cynidr and Lleurwg who have modeled the way before me, teach me to relinquish the throne of my pride and power.