As I reflect on Mary MacKillop as the first Sister of Saint Joseph and the standard she set for those who follow in her footsteps, two words spring to mind: listening and responding.
Mary knew how to listen. Right from the start as a young woman, it was while listening to the vision of Father Julian Tenison Woods to provide education for the children, that Mary heard the first whispering of the call which was to shape the rest of her life. Like Julian, Mary too was very aware of the needs of people around her. She too, had heard “the cry of the poor” (Proverbs: 21:13) and like Julian, with a sensitive and listening heart, she was willing to respond with generosity – so began a journey that not only changed her life, but changed and enriched the lives of many, many people since then, right to this present time.
Not only did Mary listen to what was happening around her, she also listened to the “still, small voice” within. (1Kgs, 19:11-12) Mary knew that voice well. She had first heard it as a child in her desire to give her life to God and later she was known to say: “Believe… the whisperings of God to your own heart.” (1868)
Mary certainly did that herself. She wrote, “…the will of God is a dear book I am never tired of reading…” (1873) To discern that Will of God, Mary would have had to create times and spaces of silence to listen and become attuned to that “still, small voice”. It was her guiding light, her GPS as it were, guiding, accompanying and strengthening her in the concrete, immediate circumstances of her daily life, enabling her to live fully her calling to respond to the needs of those around her. That inner voice carried her across geographical boundaries, not only within Australia but also across the world. It carried her too, across the boundary of what was then the accepted form of religious life to envision a new form, more suitable to the “wide, brown land” of Australia and its far-flung population.
Little wonder then, that Mary chose Saint Joseph as her patron and companion on the journey. Above all, St Joseph is a witness to the power of listening. The Gospels do not record a single word he spoke, but they do record his ability to listen in the stillness and silence of the night, and to be faithful to what he heard. The guidance which he received enabled him to lead his precious family across boundaries of personal uncertainty and into a foreign land in search of safety. No wonder Mary could say with such confidence, “In St Joseph’s care I leave you.” (1873), and shortly before her death she again encouraged her Sisters to, “Go to Joseph” in every difficulty, and “you will not be disappointed”. (1906)
To listen well, we need to be present – present to the immediate, concrete situation of our lives, whatever that may be, and present to our own true selves within. Being sufficiently present to listen can be quite challenging in our digital times with so many loud, distracting voices vying for our attention. Love never intrudes; it just invites, whereas that which is not love intrudes constantly. The challenge for us is to be as fully present as we can be to this particular moment, this person, this cup of tea, this task, this illness, this walk in the forest, this need, so that we can respond with love.
Mary wrote, “There where you are you will find God”. (1874) Our life situation may be one of chaos or calm, clarity or confusion, but all we need to experience the guidance, strength and support of the Divine is to listen, right where we are. There, we can be assured as Mary was, that we are loved through and through, and through and through, no matter what, and that we too can experience the peace and joy that accompanied Mary and enabled her, even in the midst of great trials, to write, “Keep your mind at peace whatever happens” (1890) and “Enjoy yourselves and be happy above all” (1874) and even, “Keep young as long as you can” (1874)!
Could this then be the standard that Mary set for those of us who feel inspired by the same charism, the same gift of the Spirit, which inspired her, whatever our life situation?
- To listen with an open heart to the needs around us in the immediate, grounded, practical circumstances of our lives and to respond with love, knowing that our response may be as simple as a welcoming smile, a kind word, a helping hand or it may be something more.
- To carve out times of silence and stillness in our daily lives so as to listen to “the whisperings of God” in our own hearts.
- And above all, to be faithful to what we hear? It will always be towards love.
Sr Briege Buckley