SOFTLY AND TENDERLY

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling for you and for me
Walking his pathway toward joy and compassion
Calling for you and for me

Come home, come home
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling, “Dear searcher, come home”

Leave behind selfishness, fear, isolation
Leave behind hatred and greed –
Hear now the words of his kind invitation
Calling for you and for me:

Come home, come home
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling, “Dear searcher, come home”

Up on the mount you can hear him announcing
Mercy for you and for me
Love without limits, forgiveness abounding
Justice for you and for me

Come home, come home
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling, “Dear searcher, come home”

Answer his call with your feet on his pathway
Heading for love and for peace
Heading for home in the kingdom we’re building
Home that’s for you and for me

Come home, come home
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling, “Dear searcher, come home”

Original tune and lyrics: Will L. Thompson, 1880
New lyrics: Jim Burklo, 2019

Rev. Jim Burklo, Associate Dean of Religious Life, USC
Website: MINDFULCHRISTIANITY.ORG Weblog: MUSINGS Follow me on twitter: @jtburklo
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Associate Dean of Religious Life, University of Southern California