One of the things that's really worth stopping to look at in Cambridge is the Corpus Christi Clock with its 'Chronophage' that's just opposite the main entrance to King's College and which was unveiled by Stephen Hawking a few years back. This is massively interesting for heaps of reasons - its design, machinery and even the philosophy behind it just to name a few. In fact, if you have a spare five minutes, it's worth watching this little video featuring Dr John C Taylor who is the clock's inventor and maker.
On the clock is the inscription mundus transit et concupisentia eius. This is the Latin for 1 John 2:17a, 'the world and the desire for it are passing away', which is part of a warning not to love the temporary things of the world which are opposed to God the Father and his eternal purposes. This is fitting for a clock that so vividly portrays time being consumed as it passes by the devilish locust that sits on top of the wheel. (For me, the locust is also a strong reminder of the warning in the book of Joel, where the last judgment of God is prefigured by the temporal judgement of the locust plague.)
Although there's lots written about this clock, I haven't found anyone commenting on the fact that mundus transit et concupisentia eius was the motto of Matthew Parker. Parker was Archbishop of Canterbury under Elizabeth I, but prior to that he was also successively graduate, fellow and master of Corpus Christi and I presume this must be why that Latin verse was chosen for the clock. Perhaps it was even Parker's focus on an eternity overseen by the sovereignty of God that inspired the College to have the clock made in the first place. I've sent an email to Corpus Christi asking about it.
Thoughts on Theology-in-Practice for Anglicans and Episcopalians - plus some other stuff.
