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A Strange Washing of Feet

An early hymn on the miracle of Maundy Thursday.

Maundy Thursday is the day the church remembers the Last Supper and Jesus' washing of the disciples' feet. Anglican "blogger" Barbara Gauthier posted this ancient hymn on her daily newsletter:

What could be stranger than this?

What more awesome?

He who is clothed with light as with a garment (Ps. 104:2)

is girded with a towel.

He who binds up the waters in His clouds (Job 26:8),

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 (Ps. 33:7)

now pours water in to a basin.

He who covers the tops of the heavens with water (Ps. 104:3)

washes in water the feet of His disciples.

He who has weighed the heavens with His palm

and the earth with three fingers (Is. 40:12)

now wipes with undefiled palms

the soles of His servants' feet.

He before whom every knee should bow,

of those that are in heaven,

on earth and under the earth (Phil.2:10)

now kneels before His servants.

Cyril of Alexandria (375-444)

March
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