Start:Stop - I wash my hands in innocence

Raw Material Washing Hands by Bruce Nauman, 1996

Hello and welcome to our weekly reflection from St Stephen Walbrook. You can listen to an audio version of this text here. 

“I pray that those of us who are white Christians repent of our own prejudices, and do the urgent work of becoming better allies to our brothers and sisters of colour."

"For those of us who are white Christians, I pray that we reflect and pray deeply and honestly on what it means to follow the teaching of Jesus to “love your neighbour as yourself””

Tweets by the Archbishop of Canterbury last week which were met with support but also criticism by some white Christians who claimed to be innocent of the charge; and had no need to repent for prejudice.

“I wash my hands in innocence” cries the psalmist. I wonder how many of us can say the same with integrity?

Thank God for Mountains

Christ in the Desert by Nicholas Roerich, 1933

A poem inspired by Matthew 17:1-9, the Gospel reading at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 27th February:

When our only perspective is face value,

let us consider the contours and textures of our own;

   an image of creation. 

Fear is a faceless world without features;

Stretched so thin it lacks depth. 

Transparency an unintended by-product of extreme tension;

    our face shining because it’s skin tight. 

Glory is the shining face on top of the rugged mountain;

A white light; full of every colour.

Let us all thank God for mountains; 

even those of us not yet invited to the top.