Monday February 13 each year is observed as National Apology Day. This day commemorates the first national apology made in Australia - that made in 2008 by then Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, on behalf of the Federal Government. National Apology Day remembers the official apology to the children and families traumatised by past forced child removal and assimilation government policies in 20th century Australia. (National Sorry Day, or the National Day of Healing, observed on May 26 since 1998, marks the tabling of the Bringing Them Home report in the Australian Parliament.)

Kevin Rudd’s apology in 2008 was greeted with cheers and tears across the nation as those of the Stolen Generations were recognised for the grief, suffering and loss that they and their descendents have suffered. 

The spirit of the anniversary of the apology is reflected in the challenging Gospel reading this Sunday (Matthew 5: 20-22, 27-28, 33-34). In this reading, Jesus asks us to go one step further than the letter of the law by recognising its spirit. One example he gives relates to the commandment, You must not kill. Jesus invites us to consider how our spirits, when guided by higher virtues, should lead us to enlightened ethical decision-making; for surely we ‘kill’ when we allow and tolerate harm of our environment and of people. 

On National Apology Day, we might reflect on how even our national policy- and law-makers can be moved to act from a deeper perspective of the law, as God intended and Jesus came to teach us.

"We commemorate the apology to keep the spirit of its words and their meaning alive. The commemoration is a very real part of the healing journey. One that encourages us to keep looking for new ways to work together for genuine change in the lives of our survivors and their descendants". – CEO, The Healing Foundation, Fiona Petersen

Loving God, Creator Spirit, God of the Dreaming, you who created all people in your image and likeness, may we listen with care to all people of this land and treat all with respect.

Source of all creation and unity, bless us in our endeavours to live as one in Christ. 

May you, our God of justice, give us the strength and courage to transform the world according to the vision of Jesus. 

May you, our God, model of community and equality, inspire us to bring harmony and a new vision of peace and reconciliation to all.  Amen.