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Good morning.

Fifty-five years ago today Sir Michael Woodruff performed the first successful kidney transplant in Great Britain. Discovering that one of his patients had an identical twin brother, and believing that this might reduce the risk of rejection, the operation was successfully undertaken.

Today, transplants are carried out on a regular basis in hospitals around the world. While organ donation is a personal choice and not everyone may feel able to be a donor, the gift certainly offers life and hope to another person.

Many years, ago, I met a woman, Mary, who had given one of her kidneys to an older man in her church. Apparently, he had a very rare blood type, which at the time, made it difficult to find a donor.  When Mary discovered that she had the same blood type, without hesitation, she volunteered to help. Some time after the operation, I met her and listened as she spoke about her experience.  At the time, I remember being struck not just by the fact that the gift had been given freely or even sacrificially, but by its cost.

The idea of costly giving is something we may not consider very often. Yet, Christian faith teaches that generosity is not without a price.  Love often requires that we give up something in order to be able to give. The loss of a grudge in order to forgive, forgetting the slight in order to restore a relationship. Love can hurt.

Jesus knew this to be true and yet constantly challenged his disciples to love more. A new commandment I give to you, he said, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.’

We thank you O Lord for those who by word or deed have reminded us of the nature of love. Amen