Homilia in aquas

On the Waters and on Holy Baptism. Having yesterday taken my leave of the prophets and patriarchs, I nearly left behind the works of God. For all things are washed, watered, and purified by waters. And the nature of water is one, but it is divided in many ways among the creatures: in the vine it becomes astringent, in the olive gentle; in the lily white, in the rose red; in grains nourishing, in trees growth-promoting; it waters quadrupeds and sustains fish; it cleanses the bodies of men. As often as we live, we live through waters; as often as we are wealthy, we are wealthy through waters; as often as we rest, we rest through waters. Does the power of waters seem small to you? But I pass over all this because of the length of the discourse. For as often as we interpret, we leave out the greater part; for human speech is not sufficient to set forth accurately the much-hymned grace of waters, just as it is not possible to measure the sea with words, nor all the good things of the sea’s waters that have been distributed to men from the wisdom of God. And again I will hasten to the New Covenant. For having spoken much about waters, I do not know whence I have become thirsty, and while swimming in the waters of the present discourse I thirst again. But I will remember our Savior Jesus Christ proclaiming in the Gospels and saying: If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink; for he who believes in me, as the Scripture said, rivers of living water will flow from his belly.

Therefore, let us run to him and quench our thirst, being watered by spiritual streams and irrigated by heavenly waters. Lest I be found carrying a river within myself and yet seeking only a river, when I possess the entire spring. For the immortal possession of our souls is Jesus Christ, the heavenly spring. But where shall I run? Who will lead me by the hand? Who will show me this cup of life? Lead me, a stranger, to the waters; guide me to the spring and river and streams that gush forth from above, welling up from there, and sending those who drink with faith into the kingdom of the heavens. For we greatly long to find such waters for salvation. Come, blessed one among the apostles, John; call us to the Jordan. For having traversed many waters, we await from you the divine crown. For I know that prophets and patriarchs were saved through waters symbolically, and that all creation is washed by water, but that God, the sinless one, is baptized by water. He comes to the Jordan to be baptized and to marvel at the great and paradoxical wonder: the only-begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, who in the beginning was with God, God, Word and Son of God, worshipped by angels and glorified by archangels, whom the Cherubim hymn and the Seraphim glorify. Having spread a great purification and gospel from the Jordan to the world, he teaches the human race not to despise this heavenly grace.

And the sinless one is baptized and sanctifies the waters of the world. For the Lord is upon many waters, but he informs those present who the one being baptized is: for the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove, and the Father from above, from the heavens, cried out: "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." The prophecy that says, "The Lord is upon many waters," is true. The God of glory thundered. Who, then, after such glory, disbelieves? Who doubts concerning this heavenly grace? It is not possible for anyone to see the heavenly kingdom of baptism without being deemed worthy of it, nor is it possible to be found perfect, even if one lives according to the angels, without having received the crown of this gift. Our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ himself declared to us, saying: "Unless one is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." Even if one perfects his life in an angelic manner and devotes himself to God like the apostles, but despises the grace of baptism, he cannot be found perfect. Thus he spoke to the blessed Cornelius: "Cornelius, your prayers and alms have ascended into remembrance before God. But upon these, the perfect crown is the faithful gift through the waters." Therefore, he summoned the chief of the apostles, Peter, and he filled what was lacking: he came, he admonished, he baptized, he crowned. Stand, then, firm in faith, remain grounded in the grace of the waters. Do not look at waters and again doubt; see how through waters God grants you the remission of sins.

Do not look at the waters and take the ease of the gift as a cause for contempt. When you see waters, run with faith; for these waters quench Gehenna for you, these waters cool you in the fiery river, these waters alone appease the intent of Gehenna. Thus the rich man in the Gospels, seeking and seeing Lazarus resting in the bosom of our father Abraham, said: "Have mercy on me, father Abraham, and send Lazarus so that he may dip his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame." Therefore, when you see waters, run with eagerness; for these waters open heaven for you, these waters transfer you from slavery to freedom; these waters open paradise for you and grant spiritual eyes; these waters send you on to heavenly mysteries, into which angels long to peer. You have now been winged in thought to the heavens; you have seen God sanctifying the nature of the waters; you have seen the undivided harmony of the holy Trinity upon the waters; you have received from God prophetic promises, proclaiming the gospel of your salvation; the crown of the soul is manifest, the remission of long-standing sins is near. Prepare everything purely and steadfastly for the readiness: pure faith, unblemished reasoning, divine fear, true worship, angelic garment, offering everything perfect to the Perfect One.

For you are about to be served by the Levites, led by the hand by the priests, attended by the angels, cleansed by the waters, and crowned by God and Father, because glory is due to him together with the Son and the Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages. Amen.