Pause
Take a moment to still yourself. Take a deep breath and ask God for a renewed sense of presence with you in this moment.
Readings of the Day
Gen 1:1-19 God spoke and it was done.
Ps 103:1-2, 5-6, 10,12,24,35: R. May the Lord be glad in His works.
Alleluia Alleluia! Jesus preached the Good News of the kingdom and healed all who were sick. Alleluia!
Mark 6:53-56 All those who touched him were cured.
It is worth reflecting on the words of Cardinal John Dew at Waitangi in 2020.
‘At Waitangi – on 6th February 1840 there was a hope, wishes, a vision of what Aotearoa New Zealand could be… We are all brothers and sisters, made by God. We thank God for our diversity. We thank God for New Zealand’s tradition of religious freedom and equality… It is religious tolerance, religious inclusion and religious acceptance that is our heritage. We honour and celebrate that today.’
Extracts from the Homily given by Cardinal John Dew at the Interdenominational church service at Te Whare Rūnanga, Waitangi. 6 Feb 2020.
For the complete script of the homily click HERE
Homily Studio podcast
Listen to the Homily Studio for a conversation on scripture readings for Sunday 5 February. There are some useful points about Waitangi Day in the podcast which is available at this link
For true partnership living together in peaceful relationships:
May there be a true desire among all in Aotearoa to grow more culturally aware and inclusive communities, schools and workplaces through inclusion of the Māori language, tikanga and understanding of a shared spirituality of our Christian tradition.
E te Ariki
Whakarongo mai ra ki a matou
For those in government:
May leaders of all nations demonstrate religious tolerance and inclusion so that religious freedom and protection is preserved.
E te Ariki
Whakarongo mai ra ki a matou
You might compose more prayers seeking forgiveness, giving thanks, re-committing ourselves towards justice and increasing religious tolerance.
Prayer for Waitangi Day
God of reconciliation, You made people in your likeness, and you call us to hohou rongo – reconciliation – with you, and hohou rongo with each other. Let us give thanks for the good will and aroha that New Zealanders have for one another, and for the progress made in healing the things that divide us. Steel us. Give us kaha – strength – for the challenges ahead and the work yet to do in our nation. Like a covenant that unites us together for all ages, help us to use the Treaty to build bridges across our ignorance. Help all New Zealanders to join hands in friendship and seek the way of peace together. As we protect each other’s interests, as we partner each other in our mutual needs, as we participate together in our common good, may we remember the high intentions our founders had for each other.
Mā tō mātou Ariki mā Hehu Karaiti, Āmene
Published in Caritas Companions February 2011
Closing Karakia
E te Ātua e aroha mai ana ki a mātou
God who loves each one of us
Ko ōu iwi katoa hei iwi mō mātou
All your people are our people,
Awhinatia mātou ki te mārama tetahi ki tetahi
Help us to understand each other
Kia whakapaingia tōu Hahi,
Let your Church be blessed,
E mahi tahi ana I roto I te kōmunio tuturu
As we work together in true communion.
Āmene
Korty Wilson was the Kaiwhakarite Māori Apostolate for the diocese from 2018 – 2022. In this video she introduces the hymn ‘Te Rau Aroha’, which she wrote for our diocese in 2019.
English Translation
This is us
From Te Rau Aroha
The Diocese of Palmerston North
The call which goes out
That stands
For the love (also a reference to our place Te Rau Aroha)
That gathers us and binds us
Binding us Together.
Amen.