FR. AYODELE AYENI CsSP April 2, 2012 At the dawn of creation,
"the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters
(Genesis 1.2)." The waters at creation not only manifest the
symbolism of water in Christian theology, but also its
creational importance. Water sustains life and its absence
spells doom or death. The story of Noah and the Ark gives a
Christian account of the havoc excessive water may cause, even
if there will be a rebuilding or newness that follows. However,
wherever water cohabits with the Spirit of God, as we see in
Genesis 1.2, creational order unfolds from chaos. The Spirit of
God hovering over water gives life and saving effects to water -
"Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will
live" (Ezekiel 47.9). Water and Spirit have come a long way. In
recognition of the association of water with the Spirit, we now
say, in the Second Eucharistic Prayer: "Make holy, therefore,
these gifts, we pray, by sending down your Spirit upon them like
the dewfall." Here again, the