Epiphany Hymn 6: The Spirit Rests on the Many

The Spirit came down from on high

and made the waters holy by his brooding.

In the baptism of John

he passed by the rest and remained on One;

but now he has come down and remained

on all who are born of the water.

Refrain: Blessed be he who was baptized so that he might baptize you, so that you might be absolved of your offenses!

Out of all whom John baptized,

it was on One that the Spirit dwelt;

but now he has flown and come down

so that he may dwell on the many;

and as each one after another comes up,

he loves him and remains on him.

It is a marvel that surpasses all!

He went down into the water and was baptized.

The seas called blessed

that river in which you were baptized;

even the waters that were in heaven were envious,

because they were not worthy to be your bath.

It is a marvel, O my Lord, now too,

that while the fountains are full of water,

it is the water of baptism

that alone is able to atone.

Mighty is the water in the seas,

yet it is too weak for atonement.

Your might, O my Lord, if it remains

within the humble, lifts him up;

just as royalty, if it remains

within the desert, gives it peace.

Water has triumphed over sin by your might,

for Life has surrounded it.

The sheep exulted when they saw

the hand coming near to baptize them.

Receive your sealing, you sheep; enter and be mingled in the flock!

For more than over all the flock,

the Watchers rejoice over you today.

The angels and the Watchers rejoice

over what is born of the Spirit and of water;

they rejoice that by fire and by the Spirit

the bodily have become spiritual.

The seraphim who sing “Holy” rejoice

that those who are made holy have increased in number.

For look, the angels rejoice

over one sinner if he repents;

how much more do they rejoice now,

that in all churches and congregations,

look, baptism is bringing forth

the heavenly from the earthly!

The baptized are made holy when they come up;

the sealed are pardoned when they go down.

Those who come up have put on glory;

those who go down have cast off sin.

Adam took off his glory in a moment;

you have been clothed with glory in a moment.

A house of dust, when it has fallen,

can be renewed by means of water;

the body of Adam, which was of dust

and had fallen, has been renewed by water.

Look, the priests, like builders,

renew your bodies afresh.

This is a great marvel of the wool,

that it can take every dye,

as the mind takes every teaching.

It is called by the name of its dye;

so you, who were

“Hearers” when you were baptized,

have gained the name of “Recipients.”

Elisha too made holy the common waters

through the Name that is hidden.

The leper washed in them openly,

and was cleansed by the Power that is hidden:

the leprosy was done away with in the water, as transgressions are in baptism.

Today, look, your offenses are blotted out,

and your names are written down.

The priest blots out in the water,

and Christ writes down in heaven.

By the blotting out and the writing down,

look, your rejoicing is doubled.

Look, mercy has dawned today,

and it stretches from boundary to boundary;

the sun has set, and mercy has dawned.

Justice has drawn in her wrath; grace has spread out her love;

look, she pardons and gives life freely.

The sheep that were in the fold before,

look, they hurry out to greet

the new lambs that have been added to it.

They are white and are clothed in white;

your bodies are white within and without, like your garments.

From every mouth, “Blessed are you!”

On every side, “Blessed are you!”

Sin is driven out from you,

and the Holy Spirit is dwelling on you.

The Evil One’s face has become sad;

the good God makes your faces glad.

The gift you have received freely,

do not cease to watch over it.

This pearl, if it is lost,

cannot be searched out again;

for it is like virginity,

which, if it is lost, is not to be found.

May you be kept from all defilement

by the power of your white robes!

And the one whose freedom has defiled itself,

may it be able to wash itself clean by his weeping!

For me, the servant of the community,

may the prayer of the community win pardon!

To the author who has toiled in words,

be reconciliation in rest!

To the teacher who has toiled with his voice,

be forgiveness through grace!

To the priest who has toiled in baptizing,

let the crown of righteousness come!

From every mouth, with one consent,

of those below and those above,

Watchers, cherubim, and seraphim,

the baptized, the sealed, and the hearers,

let each of us cry aloud and say,

“Glory to the Lord of our feasts!”