In the light of recent correspondence on Christian-Jewish relations (17 February), it might seem opportune to consider a feature of the liturgy of Good Friday, as it approaches. That is the “Reproaches”, in which the Almighty rebukes the Jewish people for returning his past kindness to them with cruelty to Christ in his Passion.

Perhaps a historian of liturgy could enlighten us as to the origins of these intonations. They evince a confusing Christology: “I scourged Egypt for your sake ... and you scourged me”, and so on.