Homily by Bishop Tim Norton SVD for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.' (Matthew 11:28)

The context of today’s Gospel is Jesus is correcting people’s understanding of who he is and what his ministry is about. In the verses before today’s reading, the disciples of John asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?”

Jesus responds by showing that, in a changing world, the best way to bring about change is through acts of mercy—one act at a time. He is very clear about this.

In Matthew’s Gospel, mercy and judgement often appear together. Jesus does not want to punish people. Rather, judgement can be the result of refusing mercy or standing in the way of it. This is a message for all of us.

Jesus calls us to create a ‘tidal wave’ of mercy that reaches the whole world. In doing so, he often challenges those in positions of leadership. He knows that religious leaders, at times, have used their authority to burden or crush the spirit of others. This is not a criticism of Judaism, but a warning to every leader—including us today. We are called to lead with peace.

Today’s Gospel’s central theme is peace.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace. This peace is more than the absence of conflict; it is a deep inner peace—perhaps what First Nations people describe as dadirri, or what Scripture calls shalom.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” He wants to bring peace, consolation, forgiveness and reconciliation into each of our lives.

Following Jesus does not always remove our pain, but it does restore peace, even in the midst of suffering.

Jesus continues: “Take my yoke upon you... for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” A yoke was a heavy wooden frame placed across oxen so they could pull together. It was certainly a burden, but when shared, it made the work lighter. Jesus uses this as a powerful image of discipleship. We do not carry life's burdens alone. He walks beside us, and his mercy enables us to show mercy to others.

Jesus deliberately chose the word yoke. Words matter.

This year, NAIDOC celebrates 50 years of being Deadly. In standard English, the word deadly usually has a negative meaning. Yet through Aboriginal English, we have learned another understanding. Today, deadly is one of the best-known words in First Nations communities. It expresses pride, excellence, joy and celebration. It speaks of survival, family, humour, culture and identity.

Many of us here have had to learn new languages or new ways of understanding words. Language shapes the way we see the world. Words matter because they carry meaning, identity and hope.

Jesus invites us to take on his yoke—to embrace his way of life, his values and his vision with openness and simplicity. In doing so, we discover that he is our source of comfort, peace and joy.

Happy are those who carry the yoke of the Gospel with Jesus. He knows the secret of living well, and he longs to share that secret with us.

In following Jesus, may we live lives that are truly, and in every sense of the word, deadly.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday is held during NAIDOC Week. This year's NAIDOC Week theme was '50 Years of Deadly'.

PHOTOS (Diocese of Broome Facebook)

TOP RIGHT: Bishop Tiim Norton SVD at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday Mass in Broome.

MIDDLE  LEFT: The Procession of Gifts in the cathedral.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Traditional dancing outside the cathedral in Broome after Mass.