So you and your friend were hanging around one day on the porch, him fingering his guitar, while chatting with you about life. Suddenly he breaks into song, singing a few lines, and after a while you realize he’s singing about your dad and that story you told the other day about him messing up your life. You’re suddenly indignant, but at the same time you find it hopelessly funny. Your friend, after all, has a mean sense of humor and he never fails to make you laugh. “Hey, man, are you singing about my dad?” “Yeah. Is that a problem?” “Nah, you really have talent. Funny as heck, man.” And you think nothing more of it.

Until the following week when you come upon your friend at the school auditorium. He’s surrounded by that group of girls who usually go out with the coolest boys, except this time for some reason they found your friend worth hanging out with. Some of the cool boys were there too, which is really strange since your friend’s not *that* popular. Turns out they’re so entertained by the new song he’s singing. You approach and recognize the lines he sung the other day. Except this time it’s a full-blown song, not just a few funny lyrics. You’re not quite sure how to react, but just as you were going to say something smart, your friend sees you and acknowledges your presence. “Oh hey, the guy’s here. His dad inspired this whole thing.” Everyone laughs, and since you figure it wouldn’t hurt, you join in the laughter. What’s a song anyway?

And then while checking Facebook a few days later, you watch a video that your cousin in Tampa just posted. It’s your friend! Apparently a video of his has gone viral. And he’s singing that song, again. You quickly comment, “Did you know that one’s about my dad?” Of course you’re proud of the association, this is YOUR friend after all, and this is YOUR dad he’s singing about. Pretty soon you’ve got people commenting all over your FB wall about your dad and your friend being famous, and wow, what does that feel like? And you’re pleased, especially after the girl you’re going out with posts the vid on her wall too and intros it with “I’m going out with the guy who’s friends with the other guy who wrote this, and the song is about his dad!” The world is just too cool.

But then that night, when 15 other people on your friends list posts the same video, you start getting this feeling of dread. Like what if your dad finds out? Oh, but he probably won’t, he’s not on FB after all.

The next morning, 20 more people have posted the video. And you get that sinking feeling again. You play the video which you haven’t done in days, but somehow the lyrics don’t sound as funny as when you first heard it. You’re not even mad at your father anymore even though at the time you told your friend the story you were livid and wanted to break things. It was just one of those stupid arguments and you now wish you hadn’t made such a big deal out of it. But now, what to do about that song? You’re still bothered by these thoughts as you fall asleep that night. But your last thought was, “Oh well, it’s just one song. What’s the harm in that?”

Except the next day, your friend comes to you and asks you to listen to his newest song. Whoa! It’s about your brother this time. The lyrics are even funnier on this one though, and you find yourself humming along with the danceable tune and even enjoying the beat. Before you can help it, you blurt out, “Don’t you have any other source for material?” You say this in a joking manner, of course, lest your friend be offended. He looks at you quizzically, wondering if you’re serious. But then you just slap him on the back and remind him that you both need to hurry before you miss your ride. That’s the last time you pay attention. You figure it will all fizzle out and people won’t remember the songs anyway or who they were about.

Before you know it, your friend has scheduled a gig at the local cafe. His dad’s friend knows an agent, and one thing just leads to another. A year later, your friend is recording his very first album. He proudly tells you that 4 of his songs are dedicated to you, since your life was the inspiration. More specifically, your dad, your brother, and your anger… but surprise, surprise — his latest one is about you and your girlfriend. You’ve been having some problems lately and some of them are just way too precious not to immortalize in a song.

You feel your fist clenching but you come to your senses before you could throw that punch. You go home in a huff but are really at a loss. Should you do anything? Should you just let it go?

I don’t know. How much do you love your dad? Or your brother? Or your girlfriend? Maybe you should have said something the first time. But it was just so satisfying to share that moment of frustration with your friend, and then to hear it all in a song, in a funny song no less. And then hearing that song sung, with all those cool girls and guys nodding their heads, feeling that beat…. why worry now?

But you do. Because you know it all comes down to love. And you know if you had cared enough you would have nipped it in the bud and asked your friend to stop. Or maybe sucker punched him to get that smirk off his face, that day at the auditorium.

Let’s not quote Scripture. Let’s not discuss the Catechism. Let’s not even use the word blasphemy. All it comes down to is love. We are Christians because we love Christ, but more than that because He loves us. We think His Name sacred, the Name Above All Names. We hurt when His Name is used in vain. We feel the twinge when He is mocked. Even though we get angry at Him sometimes. Even though sometimes we’ve asked for things and He didn’t exactly deliver, the way we wanted Him to. Even though sometimes we feel like He’s left us to deal with our own problems. We know He loves us and protects us. We know He died for us. He is always and ever will be our Father, our Brother, our Friend. And so we can’t ever sit still and do nothing when He’s the object of scorn. It may be funny for a bit, but at some point the laughter dies down. Because it all comes down to love, and sooner or later we have to think about what we mean when we say we love Him. Is our love easily exchanged with the approval of the crowd? Is it lost when we witness the adulation of the masses? When we pray, “Hallowed be Thy Name”, are we just paying lip service? Is our praise just a bunch of words? But no! Of course not! We love Him! Perhaps then it’s just that… our love comes cheap.