I Saw Water Flowing

I saw water flowing 
From the Temple’s side
Mixed with blood, the holy flood 
Purifies His bride 

A river it became 
Rising to the waist 
All who walked between its banks  
Salvation they did taste 

Singing Alleluia
Donning garments white
Second birth, that fearful Death
And Hell be put to flight

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This is a short poem I wrote based on an old Latin hymn called Vidi Aquam. It is an antiphon traditionally used through the Easter season in the Western church since the 12th century.¹ Here is the Latin text:

Vidi aquam egredientem de templo, a latere dextro, Alleluia:
Et omnes ad quos pervenit aqua ista, salvi facti sunt,
Et dicent: Alleluia, Alleluia.

This hymn is itself based on the vision in Ezekiel 47, where that prophet saw water flowing from the right side of the temple. I recommend reading the entirety of Ezekiel 47:1-12. An angel shows Ezekiel the vision of a new temple, and a river that flows from its right side. This water started as a trickle, but then it rose to ankle-deep, then to knee-deep, then to waist-deep. Then it became too deep to cross. The banks of the river are bursting with life, and it is teeming with fish. It then flows into the Dead Sea and makes it fresh.

As with all of the sacred scriptures, this vision has its fulfillment in Christ. When our Lord was on the cross,

“one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.”²

From the pierced side of the Savior, waters flowed, mixed with blood. I find the Old Testament connection here to be powerful. The gospels simply record, “There came out blood and water”, but when we look back to all the prophets of the Old Testament, we see that this is the beginning of something new that has been predicted for centuries.

We see the beginnings of the trickle, that would become the new and better Flood: the waters of Baptism, which now saves you.³

We see foreshadowed the giving of the Holy Spirit to be with us forever⁴, Who would flow as rivers of living water out of the heart of those who believe. They become imitators of the Crucified.

We see the headwaters of the River of the Water of Life, which runs through Paradise, on whose banks grow the Tree of Life that will heal the nations.⁵

Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.⁶ Amen.

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Detail from a piece by Full of Eyes

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Thank you for reading this short post. If you enjoyed it, let me know in the comments so I know what sort of posts to continue sharing.

• Check out this artwork from Full of Eyes.

• Here is an art piece I did called “River of the Water of Life.”

• Other Poetry on Power & Glory

1. “The Vidi Aquam text has been used during Paschaltide since the 12th century.” Description from Michael McCarthy’s musical setting of the piece.

2. John 19:34

3. 1 Peter 3:21-22

4. John 14:16

5. Revelation 22:2; Ezekiel 47:12

6. Revelation 22:17