Canon Andrew Hindley reflects on Maundy Thursday, the day when Christians are commanded to love one another.
Today was a very busy day at the Cathedral. My main responsibility is the compiling and delivering of the worship so Holy Week is the most stressful part of my year.
Not only me, but all those staff and volunteers at the Cathedral who put so much effort into the re-presentation of the events, at the end of Jesus earthly ministry, his suffering, and glorious resurrection.
We have just finished the Maundy Evening Eucharist In addition to commemorating the Last Supper at which Jesus gave us the new commandment (Latin mandatum, from which we derive the word Maundy) that we love one another.
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Jesus demonstrated his loving service and humility by washing his disciples' feet and distributing bread and wine in token of his death and of his abiding presence.
In him, people scattered over centuries and continents are made one body in Christ, through this presence in the Eucharist.
After the Gospel reading, the president, following Christ's command, washes the feet of representative members of the congregation, to show that leadership in the Christian context is to be displayed through the humility of serving others.
At the end of the Eucharist, the Blessed Sacrament is taken to the Altar of Repose in the Jesus Chapel, where a vigil of prayer will be kept until late.
Elsewhere in the Cathedral, the altars are stripped of their cloths and ornaments, symbolising Christ's increasing isolation and loneliness on the eve of Good Friday.
This act of worship never fails to move me. In fact it was at a service just like the one we have just had that I decided to become a priest.
I was 14 years old and although I did have a wobble and decide to be a doctor while taking my A Levels, in the end, I became a priest.
To say that life has been easy because of that decision made so long ago would be untrue.
Right from the very start I often found myself at odds with those around me.
At my ordination the preacher said Andrew will never have an easy life, he is far too open and honest for that.'
His prophesy has turned out to be true on more than one occasion.
But tonight as on every Maundy Thursday night since I was ordained I know that I would not have had it any other way, I believe that through suffering we grow in empathy with those we try to get alongside who come to us for help and support.
Whatever some of you rather self-absorbed bloggers might think I know that priests throughout this world, at their very best and most holy, do sacrifice a great deal to help and support people in a way that no one else does.
I know that because the people I have tried to help say that.
Also the help and support I have received from fellow priests has on occasions literally saved my life,
So now all you who would judge us by your narrow, naive and rather limited pre-conceptions of what you see our faith to be.
Get in line with Pilate, Herod, the Pharisees and the Sadducees and try as you might to break us and deride us, Easter Day will still arrive on Sunday and the whole community of faith will know, not debate or judge but really know that Jesus Christ is Risen.
Canon - tough, meaty stuff this. I look forward to reading the replies you will most surely get. Judging by the congregation at Salford RC Cathedral yesterday which consisted of - youngsters; teens; twenties; middle aged elderly and a mix of cultures, Africans; Asians and Orientals Europeans I am that your article will be appreciated.
Canon - tough, meaty stuff this. I look forward to reading the replies you will most surely get. Judging by the congregation at Salford RC Cathedral yesterday which consisted of - youngsters; teens; twenties; middle aged elderly and a mix of cultures, Africans; Asians and Orientals Europeans I am that your article will be appreciated.
Posted by: simplysimon, burnley on 1:06pm Sat 22 Mar 08
Dear Andrew,
Helping others is fine, Humane. It should be our nature to be kind to others. There are Many who are kind.
Man can be kind and not so kind. To save Man from Death is Kind. To tell a Man to wait until he is dead before he can enter Heaven is not so kind.
People think they have to be Dead to enter Heaven. Someone, somewhere has presented that notion to the People.
I am not here to Judge. Religions, Governments, Leaders can make mistakes. Mis-interpretations can be followed as well as the Truth.
Nobody has to be Dead to enjoy Heaven. Not enjoying Heaven leads to Hell. Man has not been designed for Hell. Man has been designed for Heaven.
He has been designed to find Heaven. Not wait for Death. He has been designed to conquer Death. Not surrender to it.
Dear Andrew,
Helping others is fine, Humane. It should be our nature to be kind to others. There are Many who are kind.
Man can be kind and not so kind. To save Man from Death is Kind. To tell a Man to wait until he is dead before he can enter Heaven is not so kind.
People think they have to be Dead to enter Heaven. Someone, somewhere has presented that notion to the People.
I am not here to Judge. Religions, Governments, Leaders can make mistakes. Mis-interpretations can be followed as well as the Truth.
Nobody has to be Dead to enjoy Heaven. Not enjoying Heaven leads to Hell. Man has not been designed for Hell. Man has been designed for Heaven.
He has been designed to find Heaven. Not wait for Death. He has been designed to conquer Death. Not surrender to it.
Posted by: Grace, blackburn on 4:32am Tue 8 Apr 08
Canon,
How fortunate you are that in your hour(s) of need you have had the help and support of your fellow priests! How I wish that I could access support like that - I am desperately trying to manage by myself with God's help......
Canon,
How fortunate you are that in your hour(s) of need you have had the help and support of your fellow priests! How I wish that I could access support like that - I am desperately trying to manage by myself with God's help......
Posted by: Grace, blackburn on 4:32am Tue 8 Apr 08
Canon,
How fortunate you are that in your hour(s) of need you have had the help and support of your fellow priests! How I wish that I could access support like that - I am desperately trying to manage by myself with God's help......
Canon,
How fortunate you are that in your hour(s) of need you have had the help and support of your fellow priests! How I wish that I could access support like that - I am desperately trying to manage by myself with God's help......
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