BENEFITS SANCTIONS HYMN

We hear of people sanctioned,

made poor by bad intent,

for selfishness is ruling

infecting government;

we see the children suffer

while parents are distressed,

what is there we can offer,

our nation seems bereft?

How can we counter hatred,

for this is what it seems,

when those with little favour

have even lost their dreams?

Their hope has been diminished,

their future filled with dread

while words of Christian kindness

seem wizened, shrivelled, dead.

Christ called to loving action:

to stand beside the poor,

to challenge each injustice

to keep an open door;

but politics has trampled

the love that he would share

and grace will come to nothing

if we just stand and stare.

© Andrew Pratt 8/12/2016

Tune: AURELIA

Posted in the blog of Church Action on poverty at https://blog.church-poverty.org.uk/2016/12/09/rethink-sanctions-a-hymn/

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