Australia Day 26th January

[cappie]

 

Australia Day, our national day,

for some it is a day for remembering the fragile settlement established on a far shore, the hard work of pioneers and the sacrifice of many that has built the country we are today. For some, it is a day for recalling and grieving a world largely lost, a world of Aboriginal cultures and languages that covered the continent, a continent some feel was invaded on our national day many years ago. For some, it is a day for acknowledging a nation newly
joined, a tolerant and welcoming land in which many tales and traditions find their home. For some, it is a day in which they are honoured for the part they have played in the life of this community through professional diligence, generous spirit or extended service.

Here in worship, as we bring our nation to God in prayer, what does Christian faith have to offer in nurturing Australian identity and direction? We might explore the history, the social capital the church delivers, or the volume of its voluntary service to the nation, or the churches' institutional infrastructure in education, welfare or international development. 

Long before the Christian era, long before Moses led God’s people to freedom, long before Abraham set out for a new country to father a new nation, migrating waves of Aboriginal peoples came to the Great South Land. Here they settled down in a close relationship with the land which had become their home.

More recently, in the last 225 years, new migrations have been bringing to Australia people from every continent.

 

First came the settlers and convicts from Great Britain and Ireland. But within decades a multi-cultural community was evolving as new arrivals came from Europe and Asia. Already in the 1860’s people from
England, Ireland Poland Austria, Germany and China lived side by side with the Aboriginal inhabitants especially on the Goldfields of NSW and Victoria.

 

In more recent times Australia has welcomed peoples from Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa and other parts of Australasia.

This is our history. This is the shaping of our culture as people of Australia. In this story there is much to be proud of, but it is a story in which we need now more than ever to recognise the need for that reconciliation which comes through Jesus Christ. All people have a right to love and value what is good in there own heritage. All people have a right to self-respect and dignity. The tensions which sometimes arise when people of different histories, traditions, cultures and faiths seek to live side by side have to be overcome in a spirit of openness and cooperation. Ultimately what is required is openness to that divine providence which guides nations towards fuller recognition of unity-the unity of all who are made in the image of God.

There is no greater challenge in the world, or in Australia, today than fostering toleration, of accepting each other and learning to live with difference. If we cannot learn cohabitation and communication among
communities on this earth, our future is bleak indeed.

 

The Gospel challenges us to help remedy whatever injustices mar the life of our nation and to ensure that a spirit of the Beatitudes animates national life. Jesus also makes it clear  in Matthew 25 that we will be judged on how we respond to his presence in the hungry, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned.

Today  we celebrate our democratic nation’s festival of freedom. Democracy works most effectively when there is a bedrock of religious idealism beneath it. If we want to have democracy continue to function in Australia today, it will not last long unless our democracy is wedded to the spiritual power of religious piety and deep faith in God. As  the Psalm says says,  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord”. Jesus said to (those) who believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”

 

There are many people today that are telling us that religion is all a lot of superstition, that the laws that have been laid down, of respect for individuals, property and for our creator are all a load of nonsense, that don’t respect life.  If we fall for that trap, if Australia falls for that trap then the very basis of our society and its order will be threatened. That’s why we need Christian people to pray for our country, we will never understand the way in which God moves.  But we know that if his people pray, He will hear that they will be a light to the nation and the nation will be covered and protected by Godly people who are giving direction and standing for it in prayer. We go forward, from this place as the pilgrim people of God, following Jesus the way the truth and the life. We go forward in the certainty that his truth will set us free, and our strength comes from his Word and Sacraments.

 

 

[Egidio]

I wish i could give you more props Father.

 

There is so much work to be done in our country...a land of great natural beauty, filled with good and amicable people...but religion is so underrated here..and by religion i mean the virtue of religion, to give to God what is his due.

 

However nothing is impossible for God! We just have to bring our country to the Truth one soul at a time if necessary. Maybe all you good Phatmasser folk can assist our country by offering a quick (or long) prayer for us today.

 

God Bless you all

 

AVE MARIA!!!

 

 

[Spem in alium]

Happy Australia Day, Fr. Cappie & Fr. Egidio :) I agree with you both, the majority of people (young people especially) seem very intolerant when it comes to religion and God. I really hope that in the future enough people can be inspired to make a change.

[cappie]

Happy Australia Day, Fr. Cappie & Fr. Egidio :) I agree with you both, the majority of people (young people especially) seem very intolerant when it comes to religion and God. I really hope that in the future enough people can be inspired to make a change.

 

Maybe this is a reason .....For the first five years church services in the colony were held in the open air or in temporary buildings around Sydney Cove. The settlement's first church was a wattle and daub building built in 1793. Built near the intersection of the present day Hunter and Castlereagh streets, the cost of the building, approximately £67 12s 11½d, was provided by Rev. Richard Johnson.

 

Johnson's church was in use until 1798 when a group of disgruntled Irish Catholic convicts burnt down the building in response to Governor Hunter's decree that all residents in the colony including officer and
convicts were to attend Sunday services.

 

So from the very beginnings of the Colony there was a distrust of both authority and the church. :hehe2: