The waters are made holy
From a Sermon by Saint Proclus of Constantinople, bishop (d. 446)
The waters are made holy
Christ appeared in the world, and, bringing beauty out of disarray, gave it luster and joy. He bore the world’s sins and crushed the world’s enemy. He sanctified the fountains of waters and enlightened the minds of men. Into the fabric of miracles he interwove ever greater miracles.
For on this day land and sea share between them the grace of the Savior, and the whole world is filled with joy. Today’s feast of the Epiphany manifests even more wonders than the feast of Christmas.
On the feast of the Savior’s birth, the earth rejoiced because it bore the Lord in a manger; but on today’s feast of the Epiphany it is the sea that is glad and leaps for joy; the sea is glad because it receives the blessing of holiness in the river Jordan.
At Christmas we saw a weak baby, giving proof of our weakness. In today’s feast, we see a perfect man, hinting at the perfect Son who proceeds from the all-perfect Father. At Christmas the King puts on the royal robe of his body; at Epiphany the very source enfolds and, as it were, clothes the river.
Come then and see new and astounding miracles: the Sun of righteousness washing in the Jordan, fire immersed in water, God sanctified by the ministry of man.
Today every creature shouts in resounding song: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is he who comes in every age, for this is not his first coming.
And who is he? Tell us more clearly, I beg you, blessed David: The Lord is God and has shone upon us. David is not alone in prophesying this; the apostle Paul adds his own witness, saying: The grace of God has appeared bringing salvation for all men, and instructing us. Not for some men, but for all. To Jews and Greeks alike God bestows salvation through baptism, offering baptism as a common grace for all.
Come, consider this new and wonderful deluge, greater and more important than the flood of Noah’s day. Then the water of the flood destroyed the human race, but now the water of Baptism has recalled the dead to life by the power of the one who baptized. In the days of the flood the dove with an olive branch in its beak foreshadowed the fragrance of the good odor of Christ the Lord; now the Holy Spirit, coming in the likeness of a dove reveals the Lord of mercy.
Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings
Saint Proclus (d. 446) was born at Constantinople and was devoted to the study of rhetoric. He became a disciple and friend of St. John Chrysostom and became famous for his preaching as evidenced by the compelling sermon above. He was named Patriarch of Constantinople and was particularly aggressive in his opposition to the heresy of Nestorianism. Even so, he was well known for his dedication and tactful handling of those with whom he disagreed. It was while Proclus was Patriarch of Constantinople that violent earthquakes lasting four months hit the region . The people eople left the devastated city and camped in the nearby fields. During this time, Proclus ministered with compassion to the victims. He wrote several notable treatises including Tome to the Armenians, and it was Proclus who, in 438, brought the body of St. John Chrysostom to Constantinople and placed his remains in the Church of the Holy Apostles.
Proclus died in 446.