This Sunday, my friend Irene and I are singing the anthem at church.  It is a beautiful song of praise to the Lord entitled “By Our Love”.  The version which we will be singing is an adaptation by Tom Kendzia, an OCP musical artist and by coincidence, my cousin. 

Tom’s mother and my father were first cousins.  So, I am told that makes us “first cousins once removed”.  I get a thrill out of telling folks that such a talented musician is related to me.  I am a few years older than Tom, so I wasn’t aware that when Tom was going to high school, he waited for the bus at our home in the morning.  While he waited, he would practice on our piano-a joy for all the family.

Tom’s love of God shines through all his works.  He readily acknowledges that all his talent and skills come from God.  I thank the Lord for the gift of Tom to our family and to the world.

Now about this piece of music…  I am sure that you are all aware of the notion that the early Christians were identified by their love and caring for each other.   It was the new commandment that Christ made clear at the Last Supper when he washed the feet of his followers. 

When asked by one of the teachers of the law to name the greatest commandment, Jesus replied: ²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^[b] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[c] There is no commandment greater than these.”  Mark 12:29-31

It is not always easy to love our neighbor.  Actually, it is easy for me because I have some genuinely nice friendly neighbors who live around me and we get along quite well.  But wait!  The definition of “neighbor” in this context extends way beyond the realm of my comfortable, well cared for neighborhood. 

It means the whole of humanity.  It means the good ones and the bad ones, the sick and the sad, the mean and the kind, the dirty and the clean.  It means the ones who don’t like and agree with me.  Oh dear.  What a challenge Christ has placed before us to be called Christians.

So, this Sunday, Irene and I will do our best to sing praise to the Lord of Love who emboldens us to love our neighbor as ourselves and who loves you unconditionally.

Terri