Come Away with Me ‎#11

11. As Rachel Mourned the Children

As Rachel mourned her children
King Herod sent to die,
good people stood there, silent,
and no one questioned why,
why children had to suffer
to save a king his throne,
why people stood by watching,
and let them die alone.

In every town and city
the Herods of our day
ignore the needs of children,
so they can have their way.
Good people still stand silent,
few dare to pay the price;
and mothers still are weeping
at each new sacrifice.

Above their cries of anguish
a child's voice can be heard,
the stable-child of Mary,
God's living, loving Word:
"Your children thirst and hunger.
Now, tell us, tell us why
You let the Herods triumph
And sentence us to die?"

Forgive us, Holy Jesus,
we did not see you there
among the countless children
committed to our care.
Stir us to break our silence
to give your love a voice,
till every weeping mother
has reason to rejoice.

Text Information

• First Line: As Rachel mourned her children
• Title: As Rachel Mourned the Children
• Author: Mary Nelson Keithahn (1996)
• Meter: 76.76 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1998
• Scripture:
  Matthew 5:6
  ;
  Matthew 25:40
• Topic: Children: Christ among the children whose needs are ignored today; Children: Prayer for awareness of needs of children today
• Copyright: © 1996, 1997 Abingdon Press
• ONE LICENSE: 81182

Tune Information

• Name: HEROD'S LEGACY
• Composer: John D. Horman (1996)
• Meter: 76.76 D
• Key: c minor
• Copyright: © 1996,1997 Abingdon Press