We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

1John 4:19-20

This week is the National Reconciliation Week in Australia. I’d like to start by acknowledging the country where I am in and recognise the traditional owner of this land. I’d like to honour the past, present and emerging elders of this land. As we started the week of reconciliation, the sad news broke out on another side of the planet, where lives were lost, and once again race was the topic of heated discussion and sparked the violence.

I am also a woman of colour and although I was privileged enough to not experience racism first hand, I know it exists. We are all different BUT Jesus came and died for all of us and he’s coming again to take us home. His love is not exclusive to any race. He died for the Jews, Arab, White, Hispanic, Asian, Black, Islanders, Indians and Chinese.

If we are claiming that we are Christ’s follower, we cannot be racist. How can we pass God’s love that is so inclusive on if we are being exclusive. I’d like to leave this song as a reminder for all of us during this week of reconciliation. A song to remind us to pass God’s love on.

“Pass It On” was written and composed by Kurt Kaiser in 1969. A popular song to sing around campfire among church youth groups.

The lyrics of the song goes..

It only takes a spark  To get a fire going  And soon all those around  Can warm up in its glowing  That’s how it is with God’s love  Once you’ve experienced it  You spread His love to everyone  You want to pass it on

What a wondrous time is spring  When all the trees are budding  The birds begin to sing  The flowers start their blooming  That’s how it is with God’s love  Once you’ve experienced it  You want to sing it’s fresh like spring  You want to pass it on

I wish for you my friend  This happiness that I’ve found  You can depend on Him  It matters not where you’re bound  I’ll shout it from the mountain top  I want my world to know  The Lord of love has come to me  I want to pass it on