On the second Sunday of September each year we celebrate a special feast day, the Solemnity of Brotherly Love. This Solemnity was established at the Church’s Chicago Synod in 1914.

1914 was a busy year, filled with memorable and historic events. In 1914 the Ford Motor Company announced an eight-hour workday and a minimum wage of $5 for a day’s labor. President Woodrow Wilson signed the Mother’s Day proclamation. And, in June of that year the Archduke of Austria, Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were killed, starting World War I. The stage was also being set for the Armenian and Assyrian genocides.

In December of that year Bishop Hodur, the clergy, and the laity, including fifteen women, gathered to democratically debate and vote on matters concerning the church. It is interesting to note that our church, the PNCC, enfranchised women before they had the right to vote in the United States.

In the midst of a growing and struggling church, and in the midst of dramatic world events, these delegates carried on the Polish and American democratic tradition. They faced difficult debates about the Church’s mission, rules of celibacy, the election of Bishops, and relationships with other Christian churches.

With all of that, our Church continued in its positive, life affirming, hopeful, and brave way, and declared a Feast of Brotherly Love. In the light of war, love. In the light of hardship and struggle, love. In the light of heated debate, love.

On this day we remember the two greatest commandments of God. We are to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus said to the lawyer, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” The lawyer said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” At the end of the parable of the Samaritan Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

In this time of national trouble and uncertainty, remember our brave Bishop Hodur, remember those dedicated clergy, and the men and women who came together. In the face of a changing world and a struggling Church, they placed their faith in God. In the same moment, they took up the call to brotherly love. They remembered what Jesus said to each of them.

Each and every one of us is called to do the same for your brothers and sisters here, for those along the gulf coast, and for all we meet. Take up the task each and every day, and show compassion and love toward others. Without faith, goods works are empty. With faith, good works bring Christ to all. Love God and love your neighbors —“ as Jesus said, —Go and do likewise.—