A message stick of peace

Two weeks ago, a message stick, similar to the one present here today, and held up during the proclamation of the Gospel, was presented to Pope Leo by me. It had been given to Pope Francis a couple of years ago, but this was the first time I could present it in person to the Holy Father. It was gratefully and humbly received by him.

A message stick is as it is named. For indigenous communities it carries a message of news important to share from the bearer to the recipient. The message stick here – like the one given to Pope Leo – bears the message from Christ, carried by those sent to proclaim the good news of the coming of God’s kingdom among the people willing to hear of it.

This is precisely what we heard just now, in the Gospel just proclaimed. Jesus had sent out his disciples in twos, to share the Good News that God had come to visit his people, and to invite them into His kingdom life. They were to carry no excess things, but those sent were to carry with them only one thing: the message of the Good News. If they had been Aboriginals, they’d have done so via carrying with them a message stick.

We heard how the message that Christ wanted firstly to be heard was a message of peace: peace to this house, to this family, to these people. How our world needs this message. And given what happened Friday night, how our town needs this message of peace. Our Jewish neighbours in faith – barely 100 metres up the road from here – need this message from Christ: peace to you, in your house of worship! Despicable loathing of others is not the message of Christ, nor should it be of one person to another. May we be bearers of a message stick of peace in Melbourne.

Jesus’ second message he sent out with his disciples was the message that God’s kingdom is near for all who would receive it. This kingdom – God’s Kingdom – is not a political structure, or a form of government. It does not have elections or mandates or policy debates. God’s kingdom is a way of being in human society, founded on the building of reconciliation where division has arisen, and a love that bears the burdens of each other for the good of each other. The journey of reconciliation and recognition for the indigenous peoples of Australia is a properly Christ-centred path for us to be taking. It is a message we are all called to take up, and hand on.

Jesus sent his disciples out with a message of healing and hope. This is a message we all need to hear and receive, and to then also be the bearers of it among our families and neighbours. To heal and to hope: may this be written on the message sticks we carry home with us today.