On the first “Australia Day”, January 26 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip planted the British flag — the Union Jack — on Australian soil at Sydney Cove.

Every Australia Day you still see lots of Australian flags – each sporting that same (almost the same) Union Jack:

“JACK” because British naval ships traditionally flew it on the Jackstaff, a small flagpole at the back of such ships.

“UNION” because it’s a combination, or union, of the flags of St George (vertical red cross on white background), St Andrew (white diagonal cross on blue) and St Patrick (diagonal red cross on white).

* * *

Lately the media are publicising various characters wanting to change Australia’s flag.

Some want it green and gold — others black, red and yellow — all seem determined to eliminate that Christian symbol, the Cross.

In the ancient Roman world, crucifixion was the cruellest punishment of all — the bodies often being not removed from the Cross, but left to be ripped apart by vultures.

* * *

Why is such an unpleasant symbol the sign of our Faith?

Because we are sinners — our sins against the infinitely good God meriting for us his just punishment, no matter what good deeds we might do.

Only the self-offering of the infinitely good God himself, in the incarnated person of his divine Son, could atone for our guilt.

Through the Infinite love of the crucified Christ we have the offer of an eternity in the glad presence of our Creator.

Our Lord himself spelt it out: “He who does not take up his Cross and follow me is not worthy of me . . . if anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross, and follow me.”

That’s clear enough. But many of us don’t want to hear about it. We’re quite attached to our sins and don’t intend giving them up – not just yet, anyway.

So we tend not to want flags with Crosses flying around the place, reminding us about reality.

* * *

Yet in our saner moments we know that Australia has become a very self-absorbed, cruel and bitter place — and that only with God’s help can we change our world, not to mention our eternal fate.

.