Waters of Promise: A Baptismal Ode #1078

Waters of Promise: A Baptismal Ode In the hallowed halls where priests once trod, Levitical whispers, sacred and shod, Echo through time in ritual flood, Prelude to a rite in Jordan's mud. John, voice crying in wilderness dear, Forging a path as the Lord draws near, With water he marks the repentant way, Baptizing the Lamb in the river's sway. Heavens tear open, a dove descends, Divine voice declares as the cosmos bends, "Here is My Son, in whom I delight," The waters bear witness to this holy sight. Baptism, a death and rebirth so profound, In waters where sins are lost and found. Jesus, immersed, humanity's face, Anoints with His suffering, His grace. Essenes, in shadows, might whisper still, Their purity, prophecy, communal will, Shaping the voice of the wild, the Word, In desert's breath, a new hope stirred. This is the dance of water and faith, Where ancient echoes meet divine wraith. From Jordan's bank to the hearts of all, Baptism's call—a rebirth, a call. Written by Steven G. Lee (April 29, 2024)