Saint Mary of the Cross (MacKillop)

8 August 2017

A couple of weeks ago I spent the night at Mary MacKillop Place, a unique guest house run by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart in North Sydney. For a faith filled traveller looking for a bed in Sydney it has the wonderful advantage of being the place where Australia’s first saint lived, died and is buried.

I had a great prayer time at Mary’s tomb in the morning. I shared with Mary the desire in my heart to see a new fire of faith taking hold and burning brightly once again in Australia. I had the sense that Mary knew exactly what I was talking about. I felt she was praying with me.

I got the feeling that as an Australian woman Mary ‘gets’ us. She understands all the worries and anxieties that Australian families and young people are carrying. That’s why today’s gospel for Saint Mary’s feast day is spot on. Jesus’ message rings like a bell: “STOP WORRYING!”

The news is good: There is a God. He is the King and His reign as King is breaking into the world. On top of that, Jesus insisted that God is not only king, he is also Father, and he loves each one of us with a powerful Father’s love. Our job is to trust him and to place our lives in His hands. Jesus said, “Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well.”

So learn from the example of our wonderful Saint Mary of the Cross, hand your worries over to the Father and start to exercise your trust muscle. (It’s located in the centre of your chest.)