Across the Jordan

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,'” as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing. John 1:19-28

Across the Jordan

Dear Creator of our deep waters
who moved and through in creation
you breathe life and light into us
and are present in our  drowning days.

These days we await normal's return
yet we also know that it will never be
the same will not ever come again
for you are moving over the waters.

We want what we never really knew
and you are pointing us to the future
where the Savior draws near again
and calls us to be a family together.

Help us to wait and watch with hope
help us to joyfully anticipate a birth
the incarnation of love renewed
opening our hearts to all our neighbors. Amen