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God, How Can We Comprehend?

ABERYSTWYTH 7.7.7.7 D "Watchman, Tell Us of the Night" PH# 20 "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" UMH# 479 "Savior, When in Dust to You" LBW #91
A Hymn for refugees

God, how can we comprehend— though we’ve seen them times before--
Lines of people without end fleeing from some senseless war?
They seek safety anywhere, hoping for a welcome hand!
Can we know the pain they bear? Can we ever understand?

You put music in their souls; now they struggle to survive.
You gave each one gifts and goals; now they flee to stay alive.
God of outcasts, may we see how you value everyone,
For each homeless refugee is your daughter or your son.

Lord, your loving knows no bounds; you have conquered death for all.
May we hear beyond our towns to our distant neighbors’ call.
Spirit, may our love increase; may we reach to all your earth,
Till each person lives in peace; till your world sees each one’s worth.

Biblical Reference: Matthew 25:31-46
Text: Copyright (c) by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, 1999. All rights reserved.

Carolyn Winfrey Gillette gives free one-time use of this hymn to congregations that support Church World Service.

Carolyn Winfrey Gillette is the co-pastor of the Limestone Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware and author of Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today's Worship is a collection of 45 new hymns published by Geneva Press. A complete list of her hymns can be found at http://firstpresby.org/hymnlist.htm .
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