80  A Song of Ephrem the Syrian

1    Behold: Fire and Spirit in the womb that bore you:  

Behold: Fire and Spirit in the river where you were baptized.

2    Fire and Spirit in our baptism:  

In the Bread and the Cup, Fire and Holy Spirit.

3    In your Bread is hidden a Spirit not to be eaten,  

In your Wine dwells a Fire not to be drunk.

4    Spirit in your Bread, Fire in your Wine,  

A wonder set apart, yet received by our lips.

5    How wonderful your footsteps, walking on the waters!  

You subdued the great sea beneath your feet.

6    Yet to a little stream you subjected your head,  

Bending down to be baptized in it.

7    The stream was like John who performed the baptism in it,  

In their smallness each an image of the other.

8    To the stream so little, to the servant so weak,  

The Lord of them both subjected himself.

 

Common Worship: Daily Prayer, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2005 and published by Church House Publishing.

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