Reflection

Reconciliation Week 27 May – 3 June

When once, I was ask by a child at school, "Why are we sorry when we didn't do anything to hurt anyone?" I used a football metaphor to explain.

We are so happy when our team wins on the weekend and we share in the pride our players are feeling.  We didn't actually do anything to help them win.  They were playing in Perth and we were watching on the TV in Melbourne.  They couldn't hear us as we cheered every goal and mark.  The removal of Aboriginal Children from their families is a bit the same, but in reverse.  None of us took part in this action but we can feel the pain this has caused them, and we are sorry this happened to them.  

Another example that comes to mind is the pride we feel in the achievement of our servicemen and women on ANZAC Day.  Many of us who have never served stand a little bit taller, proud of the tenacity and resilience displayed by the ANZACS at Gallipoli.

May we all be mindful of the hurt and suffering caused by inter-generational trauma experienced by our Indigenous brothers and sisters during this Reconciliation week.

Nick.

Reconciliation Week Prayer

Holy Father, God of Love,

You are the Creator of all things.

We acknowledge the pain and shame of our history

and the sufferings of Our peoples,

and we ask your forgiveness.

We thank you for the survival of Indigenous cultures

Our hope is in you because you gave your Son Jesus

to reconcile the world to you.

We pray for your strength and grace to forgive, accept and love one another, as you love us and forgive and accept us in the sacrifice of your Son.

Give us the courage to accept the realities of our history so that we may build a better

future for our Nation.

Teach us to respect all cultures.

Teach us to care for our land and waters.

Help us to share justly the resources of this land. Help us to bring about spiritual and social change to improve the quality of life for all groups in our communities, especially the disadvantaged.

Help young people to find true dignity and self-esteem by your Spirit.

May your power and love be the foundations on which we build our families, our communities and our Nation, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Wontulp Bi-Buya Indigenous Theology Working Group