The Baptism of Our Lord
Poems
A Gospel Treasury
Poems Based on Lectionary Gospels
A child that I knew saw a baby baptized
And afterward said to her mother,
"Today, at the church,
A babe's head was washed.
And they didn't use one bit of soap."
Although I'm amused,
It is true that a muse
Sometimes speaks with the voice of a child.
For it surely is true
We baptize to relieve
The original sin of a child.
And the sin of a man
We believe is erased
By the waters that heal as they cleanse.
But there's something beyond
That's reflected from Jesus'
Receiving the baptism of John.
There's a name that is given,
Identity claimed,
An allegiance acknowledged.
We accept an accord
With the God of Creation,
Who signs with the sign of the Cross.
On our forehead emblazoned,
It stands for a lifetime
To say we are his to the end.
As Jesus accepted
This pledge of the Father,
And answered in turn with his own,
Let us treasure the Name
And the Christian New Birthmark,
The Cross on our foreheads proclaim.
And afterward said to her mother,
"Today, at the church,
A babe's head was washed.
And they didn't use one bit of soap."
Although I'm amused,
It is true that a muse
Sometimes speaks with the voice of a child.
For it surely is true
We baptize to relieve
The original sin of a child.
And the sin of a man
We believe is erased
By the waters that heal as they cleanse.
But there's something beyond
That's reflected from Jesus'
Receiving the baptism of John.
There's a name that is given,
Identity claimed,
An allegiance acknowledged.
We accept an accord
With the God of Creation,
Who signs with the sign of the Cross.
On our forehead emblazoned,
It stands for a lifetime
To say we are his to the end.
As Jesus accepted
This pledge of the Father,
And answered in turn with his own,
Let us treasure the Name
And the Christian New Birthmark,
The Cross on our foreheads proclaim.
