Let It Be So

Τὸ πρέπον ἐκάστῳ καιρῷ προσνέμων ὁ δίκαιος κριτὴς, Ἄφες ἄρτι, τῷ Ἰωάννῃ ἔλεγε παραιτουμένῳ τὸ βάπτισμα. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐκεῖνος ὡς τῷ Δεσπότῃ τὸ σέβας ἀποδιδοὺς, ἄπτεσθαι τῆς θείας οὐκ ἐτόλμα κεφαλῆς, Ἄφες ἄρτι, ἤκουσε. Νῦν, φησὶ, πτωχείας καιρὸς, συγκαταβάσεως θεσμὸς, δι' ὄν ἀνείληφα ἄνθρωπον, λαμβάνω τὸ βάπτισμα, ἐκεῐνον καθάρω τῆς παραβάσεως. Οὐ χρεία νῦν τῆς Δεσποτικῆς ἐξουσίας, ἀλλὰ τῆς δουλικῆς εὐτελείας. Ἄφες ἄρτι πληρωθῆναι τὴν εὐσπλαγχνίαν, ἵνα μὴ ἐμποδισθῃ τῶν ἀνθρώπων σωτηρία. Οὕτως γὰρ πρέπων ἡμῖν ἐστι πληρῶσαι πᾶσαν δικαιοσύνην. Δικαιοσύνη γάρ ἐστι, τὰ πάθη τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἀναδεξάμενον, ἀπαθῶς ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν καὶ βάπτισμα δέξασθαι, λυτήριον τῆς αὐτῶν ἁμαρτίας, καὶ σύμβολον τῆς αὐτῶν ἐν ἐμοὶ ἀφθαρσίας. Ἅγιος Ἰσίδωρος Του Πηλουσιώτου, Βιβλίον Πρῶτον, ΞϚ Καισαριῳ Κομητι Migne PG 78. 225

The righteous judge, attributing the proper things to the time, says 'Let it be so', 1 to John who declined to give the gift of baptism. For he, showing reverence for the Lord, daring not to touch the Divine head, heard 'Let it be so.' Now, He says, is the time of poverty, the setting aside of law, and on account of the assumption of humanity I receive baptism, that I cleanse it from the curse. Now the Dominical power is inoperative, now there is the vileness of servitude. 'Let it be so,' that compassion be fulfilled, lest the salvation of men be impeded, 'For so it befits us to fulfill all righteousness.' 1 For of righteousness it is that He who took on the weakness of men take on baptism for them, that which delivers them from their sins, and let it be a sign in me of their cleansing. Saint Isidore of Pelusium, Book 1, Letter 66, To Count Caesarius 1 Mt 3.15