The land is parched and dry
Under a cloudless sky
Drought has made the earth thirsty
Crying to the heavens for mercy.
But unless the bright blue yonder
Turns grey and echo with thunder
And the winds come to call
Only then will the rains fall.
From the heavens, the rain comes down
To drive away dryness and everything brown
To make the earth fertile and fruitful
And once more make it bountiful.
Then shall the clear running waters return
As their earthly journey they adjourn
To the heavens where they will crowd
To wander once more as a beautiful cloud.
The white and churning waters bring us life
A life that is filled with joys as well as strife
A drop may be simple drop, transparent
But it can make a rainbow appear and apparent.
A man appears by the waters to be baptized
Even the Baptizer himself is surprised
For here is one who is mightier than he
Asking him, “Please also baptize me.”
The Spirit, like a bird, descends upon the scene
Oh what could this possible mean?
Then a voice from the heavens gently breathed:
“You are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.”
For just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
and do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
so shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
my word shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.
You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
~ Isaiah 12:3
This is what John the Baptist proclaimed:
“One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee
and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open
and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens,
“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Mark 1:7-11