Australia Day 2025 reflection
The Portuguese explorer Pedro Ferdinand de Quiros set out to discover what many people of his day thought was a landmass that must exist in the southern hemisphere to counterbalance the globe. On Pentecost Day, 14th May 1606, he arrived at what he thought was this new continent. He said, ‘From now one shall be called the southern land of the Holy Ghost’. However, it wasn’t what we now call Australia that he encountered, but rather Vanuatu and its indigenous people. If he had made it much further south to Australia, he would have discovered our indigenous peoples too.
His grasp of geography and navigation might not have been top shelf, but what he said about his discovery is true. This is God’s land: the people, the flora and fauna, the natural beauty. This was true before and after British settlement and still today. Today, Australia is home to so many people from around the globe, especially those seeking refuge from war and the hope of a bright future.
This Australia Day, give thanks to God for the gift of this nation and its people. Pray for the First Peoples of our nation and for reconciliation and justice. Pray that God will heal growing divisions in our community, between rich and poor, and between different races and faiths. Pray for wise leadership, generous hearts and care and respect for each other and the land in which we live. Ask God through the Holy Spirit to revive all churches, that we may be a shining light for our nation. May Australia be the great south land of the Holy Spirit.
