Eucharistic prayer - Baptism of Jesus

Blessed are you, O holy God, Light and Life of the world. In the beginning, your voice flew over the mighty waters. You separated the waters and made the dry land, and brought forth life throughout creation. You led your people Israel through the sea and out of bondage, and through the river Jordan into the land of promise. You brought forth streams of water in the wilderness, and commanded your children to wash in the water for purification and for healing. You have given prophets and seers visions of the river flowing from the heavenly temple as balm and blessing. You sent your prophet John to prepare the way of the Lord, proclaiming a baptism of repentance. And in Jesus, you stepped into the raging waters, identifying with the penitent, and extending your hand of salvation.

In the night before his trial and death, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering, therefore, his incarnation in human flesh, his love of those in need and his prayer for his disciples, his dying and rising, we await the day when all creation rejoices in his Light. Come, Lord Jesus.

By your Spirit bless us and this meal, that it be for us the gift of faith, nourishing and strengthening us to plunge into service in your kingdom. Come, Holy Spirit.

Welcome into your kingdom all who call upon your name, beloved children of the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to whom be all glory and honor and praise, now and forevermore. Amen.

Modern Coptic icon of the Baptism of Jesus Christ, from St-Takla.org. Note the way Jesus' immersion in the river is depicted as a foreshadowing of the shroud which wrapped him at death, echoing the way theology talks about baptism as the drowning of the old Adam and the death of sin.
 

Comments

gh said…
Hello Paul, You have a very nice blog here! You may also appreciate the many testimonies of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at http://wetestifyofchrist.blogspot.com. God bless.
January 3, 2012 at 10:49 AM
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