Faith That Lets Us Sing ‎#44

44. How Foolish They Were

1 How foolish they were, who came from the East,
how foolish, and yet, oh, so wise,
to travel so far
because of a star
they saw as a sign in the skies.

2 How foolish, yet wise, to see in a child
the ruler God’s prophets foretold!
What folly, what joy
to give a poor boy
their frankincense, myrrh, precious gold!

3 How foolish, yet wise, to trust in a dream,
a powerful king disobey;
to see through the plan
of this evil man,
and seek an alternative way.

4 May we be such fools, may we be so wise
as those who once came from the East,
to see in each face,
in every poor place,
the Child in the lost and the least.

5 As light from the star has opened our eyes
the pain of the poor now revealed,
may we dare to care,
to give and to share,
that one day the world may be healed.

Text Information

• First Line: How foolish they were who came from the East
• Title: How Foolish They Were
• Author: Mary Nelson Keithahn (2013)
• Meter: 10.85.58
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2017
• Scripture:
  Matthew 2:1-12
  ;
  1 Corinthians 3:18-20
  ;
  1 Corinthians 4:10
• Topic: Epiphany
• Notes: This text suggests that the wise men from the East were perhaps the first "fools for Christ" Paul mentions in his letter to the churh at Corinth.

Tune Information

• Name: ROCKVILLE
• Composer: John D. Horman (2014)
• Meter: 10.85.58
• Key: E minor
• Source: Faith That Lets Us Sing
• Copyright: Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc.