Maundy Thursday

Dear friends,

Sometime early in the fifth century, S Cyril, then the old bishop of Alexandria, stepped up into the pulpit on Maundy Thursday and spoke these words to the gathered faithful:

• "What could be stranger than this? What more awesome? He Who is clothed with light as with garment (Psalm 104:2-3) is girded with a towel. He Who binds up the waters in His clouds (Job 26:8) and Who sealed the abyss by His fearful name is bound with a girdle. He Who gathers together the waters of the sea as in a vessel (Psalm 33:7) now pours water into a basin. He Who covers the tops of the heavens with water washes in water the feet of His disciples. And, He Who has weighed the heavens with His palm and the earth with His three fingers (Isaiah 40:12) now wipes with undefiled palms the soles of His servants. He before Whom every knee must bow, of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth (Philippians 2:10) now kneels before His servants."

Our own bishop, Jonathan, was inspired by these words to compose a hymn - which is today's offering.  Bp Jonathan captures the "back and forth" of S Cyril, and brings the words that were spoken 1500 years ago to a new freshness.  I want to highlight one stanza:

What wonder shows a mystery like this?
That he who has formed and weighed the earth,
Before whom every knee should bow,
Now wipes with his palms the soles of his servants?

Not too many people get to wash other people's feet.  It is one of the weird (and wonderful?) privileges of being a priest.  The oddest moment of the experience is when one touches the sole of another's foot.  Think about it.... how many people have touched the sole of your foot?  How many soles have you touched?  I'm guessing not many.  This hymn brings out not just the humility of the action, but the profound vulnerability and intimacy of it as well.

For Maundy Thursday
By Bishop Jonathan Goodall
 
WHAT wonder is more awesome than this?
That he who has clothed himself with light
And binds the waters in the clouds
Is wrapped in a towel and bound in a girdle?
 
What wonder could be stranger than this?
That he who contains the surging waves
Now pours the water in a bowl
And washes the feet of his own disciples?
 
What wonder shows a mystery like this?
That he who has formed and weighed the earth,
Before whom every knee should bow,
Now wipes with his palms the soles of his servants?
 
What glory is more perfect than this?
That loving his own until the end,
Should stoop to take the lowest place
And bend to the earth and kneel before his friends?