St. Ephrem the Syrian composed the following poetry as he reflected on the meaning of the Feast of Theophany. He focuses on part of the prayer of the Feast for the Blessing of Water in which we ask the Holy Spirit to come upon the water and be present in it just as the Spirit was present at the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River.
The Spirit descended from the heights
and sanctified the water as She hovered.
When John baptized Jesus
She left all others and settled on one,
but now She has come down and settled
upon all who are reborn in water of baptism.
Of all those that John baptized
the Spirit dwelt on one alone,
but now She has flown down
to dwell upon many.
Rushing to meet the Foremost who went up first from the Jordan,
She embraced him and dwelt upon Him.
It is a wonder that the Purifier of all
should have gone down to the water to be baptized.
The seas declared that river blessed,
in which You, Lord, were baptized.
The waters, too, that are above the heavens
were envious that they had not been held worthy to wash You.
Thus we pray to make the water that of Jordan.
It is a wonder, Lord, now as well
that, though the springs are full of water,
only the baptismal font
can wash clean:
the seas may be mighty with all their water,
but they have not the power to wash.
(“Hymns on Epiphany,” Treasure-house of Mysteries, pp. 249-250)
Fraternized 