Some things I know for sure...

By Rev. Dr Katherine Rainger, Senior Chaplain

Welcome to 2023! Yumalundi (‘welcome’ in Ngunnawal language)! Every blessing for the start of the school year.

New beginnings bring a mixture of emotions and expectations that we navigate together.

One of my habits is diary writing - not every day, but I try to capture moments and encounters. One year I used Dawn French’s, Me. You. A Diary. This undated diary is full of prompts for writing and reflection; “a lovely ramble through the year together.”

One of the prompts was to write a list of “some things you know for sure...” Looking back at the list of the ten things I wrote in 2018, I’d have to say that they’ve stood the test of time – at least according to me!

I was reminded of this exercise as I read the Gospel passage set for this week (Matt 5: 1-12).

The Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7) is a comprehensive “some things I know for sure” moment in Jesus’ ministry. The key difference being that when Jesus had finished teaching, “the crowds were astounded . . . for he taught as one with authority” (Matt 7:28).

Jesus begins his sermon with eight declarations of blessing, known as the beatitudes:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

I wonder which of these beatitudes speaks to you today?

The beatitudes are as profound as they are provocative. Jesus’ promise of fulfilment, favour and protection comes to those who are open to the values and way of life that Jesus embodies. Living by these values can be costly and the blessings may not be immediately evident.

Within the violence and dispossession of the past and the present, God is with us calling people to seek and rely on God as they live into the call to be merciful, to thirst for justice, and to be bringers of peace. May God’s kingdom come as we pray, support, and take action that leads to healing, hope, peace, and justice.

Senior Australian of the Year: Professor Tom Calma AO

Congratulations to Professor Tom Calma AO who has been awarded Senior Australian of the Year. As Chancellor of the University of Canberra, he is our ‘across the road’ neighbour on College Street.

We were fortunate enough to have Professor Calma speak at the Dirrum Dirrum Festival in 2020. He shared deep insights, called us to action and had many conversations with festival goers and student organisers.

As the Australian of the Year website says, Professor Calma is a Kungarakan Elder who has worked for more than 45 years at local, community, state and international levels championing the rights, responsibilities and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. His call for Australia to address the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples was the catalyst for the Close the Gap Campaign. Tom was instrumental in establishing the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples; has led the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program; co-chaired Reconciliation Australia for more than a decade; and has co-led the co-design of a Voice to Parliament initiative.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.