O come, O come, Emmanuel,
Our world is broke and on its way to Hell.
Our government has abrogated care
Of children shot in classrooms everywhere.
The noise! The noise! This grief we cannot bear,
But no one stops the sale of gun hardware.
Water we drink is poisoned in our wells
With dross from reckless manufacturing
Of things desired to make life worth the living:
More cars! more cars, more LED’s so bright,
More cell phones filled with AI delights.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
Save us from the rising ocean swell,
From climate change and avaricious life
With carbon footprint, violence, and strife,
With wars! With wars and enemies we’ve sought,
Not seeking neighbors as you taught.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
We hear our funeral tolling bell
That sounds of lonely death and graves
Apart from You and from Your Word that saves.
Our sin! Our sin is gluttony and pride,
Dark deceits from which we cannot hide.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
For we are lost; our way from you we fell.
We wander without compass or a goal
Of helping neighbor, but patrol
Our walls! Our walls we build to separate,
Supporting fear-filled xenophobic hate.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
The poor imprisoned, locked up in their cells,
They can’t afford the cost of liberty,
So, for release, they give a guilty plea.
“Police! Police, arrest, incarcerate
All those we fear now standing at our gate.”
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
Empower us to speak your love and tell
Your word of hope and mercies ever given,
That from grave in body you have risen
To bring! to bring salvation and release,
To live as one in wholeness and in peace.
