Epiphany Hymn 11: Your Crowns Have Been Doubled

Give thanks, O daughter, that your crowns have been doubled;

for see, your temples and your sons rejoice.

The dedication of your temples is in the service;

the dedication of your sons is in the anointing.

Blessed are you, that at once ……

…… the tabernacle for those who dwell in you,

and the Spirit has rested on your sons!

Refrain: Let the bodies that the Evil One had stripped naked rejoice, for in the water they have put on their glory!

Our Lord opened up baptism

in the middle of the Jordan, the blessed river.

The height and the depth rejoiced in him;

he brings out the firstfruits of his peace from the water,

for they are firstfruits, the fruits of baptism.

The good God in his compassion will bring it about

that his peace will be firstfruits on earth.

Moses set up the tabernacle that was only for a time;

the priests bathed in water,

and went in and ministered; and they were struck down and punished,

because their heart within was not cleansed.

Blessed are you, for in the Passover of the great suffering

the priests, by the fragrance of their offerings,

see, are cleansing souls in you!

Great was the mystery that the prophet saw,

the torrent that was mighty.

He gazed into its depths and beheld

your beauty instead of himself; it was you he saw, for your faith does not pass away,

you whose unseen flood will overwhelm

the subtleties of idolatry.

Though John was great among those born of women,

yet the one who is little is greater than he,

in this: that those he baptized were baptized again,

in the baptism of the apostles.

Blessed are you, for your priest is greater than he

in this alone: that forever

his baptism abides.

The baptism of Siloam

did not bring mercy to the man who lay there,

who waited for it thirty-eight years,

for he showed partiality to the Levites.

Blessed are you, for your healing is in you for all people,

and your priests are devoted and ready

for all who need your help.

The prophet healed the waters that were unwholesome,

and cured the sickness of the land that was barren,

so that its death was done away and its region resounded, for its offspring increased and its bosom was filled.

Greater is your grace, Lord, than Elisha’s!

Multiply my lambs and my flocks

at the great stream of my fountain!

Great is the marvel that is within your dwelling:

the flocks together with the shepherds,

those at the stream of the waters,

two unseen with one visible who baptizes.

Blessed is the one who is baptized in their fountains!

For three arms have held him up,

and three Names have kept him safe!