Many diocesan bishops were dissatisfied with the sisters serving in their diocese under a different Church authority and threatened to expel them unless they acknowledged their authority, despite Rome's ruling. 

During her t as pastor, a South Australian priest determined to destabilise her ripped the congregation's command from her.  Mary Mackillop was born into a poor family, which made Mary must work for what she needed to get by in life. Mary moved to Melbourne at a young age, to help herself and what she believed in. 

before you, accept them bravely, remembering Whom you are trying to follow.”

To me, the possible meaning of this phrase created by Mary Mackillop is, that no matter what troubles you face going through stages of life, never avoid them or hide from them or act like the aren’t there. Instead, take them on, and face them bravely and to do it for the people that inspire you to keep going in life.  

Mary Mackillop wrote this, to reassure her people, and show them that they should always be brave, and always face their challenges face on and not hide from them or ignore them. This message was written for her people, possibly being the children at her schools, or the sick people she visited as part of her journey. The impact of this writing was major. This helped people to step up to their challenges and helped people to be brave. 

before you, accept them bravely, remembering Whom you are trying to follow.”

To me, the possible meaning of this phrase created by Mary Mackillop is, that no matter what troubles you face going through stages of life, never avoid them or hide from them or act like the aren’t there. Instead, take them on, and face them bravely and to do it for the people that inspire you to keep going in life.  

In that time in history, the community in which held these sick Lepers, treated them as outcasts. There was a huge imbalance in equality between sick and wealthy members of the community, and in most/ all cases, the sick Lepers were treated the worst. These sick men were prohibited from making any contact with people from the outside- anyone who did not have the disease. The sick men were often shouted at and had to ring a bell if anyone ‘normal’ people approached them and call “unclean” to make people aware that they were unclean and diseased. 

What did we find out about these characters and who they were in the time written? Jesus was approached by a Leper and was not scared to go near him, he even touched the man.  Naaman was someone who was very sick and was one of the 10 Lepers. These men were sick with the disease Leprosy and were outcasts and hid away from the world. These men were sick with Leprosy, and were treated as outcasts in their society, until Jesus came and healed all 10 of them.

Although this was not a law, everyone in the town knew that if someone was not as wealthy, or was ‘diseased’ they knew to treat them as outcasts and as if they don’t belong in the town, as if leprosy was a disease only those 10 men could catch, not realising that if they got sick, they would get treated like this too. 

All this background information provides a deeper message, as we a shown how life was back in the day of Jesus, and how any of us can help those that no one else will even go near, and those that seem like they have nothing left. There is always a way to be a better person for yourself, others, and the world as a whole.

Jesus was approached by a Leper and was not scared to go near him, he even touched the man. Naaman was someone who was very sick and was one of the 10 Lepers. These men were sick with the disease Leprosy and were outcasts and hid away from the world. These men were sick with Leprosy, and were treated as outcasts in their society, until Jesus came and healed all 10 of them.

From this basic information, we still need to find out what happened to the men after the healing ritual; were they finally accepted in society? Did they find their place in the world? Etc. 

The author wanted people to know about Jesus, is that he helped anyone and was not scared of the rumours he heard about others.

The message this story has for us today, is that you should be kind to everyone and disregard their faults and do your best to accept them for who they are because they can’t control their faults, and everyone has faults.

A 21^st century group that is continuing the work of Mary Mackillop, are The Sisters of Saint Joseph, who invite people to participate in the Australian National Pilgrimage: In the Footsteps of Mary Mackillop. These people continue the work of Mary Mackillop, as when they embark on a pilgrimage, they must ‘let go' of the certainties of our previous lives. The Sisters must be willing to accept the unknown as well as the generosity of others. That was Mary MacKillop's attitude towards God. She learned to be open to what God wants to always do in her, which she referred to as "doing God's Will." It meant letting up of personal desires and hopes and entrusting them to God. 

A suitable target audience for today when reading and interpreting this text would be primary school students. This is because when in primary school, that is a vital time of learning right from wrong in extensive ways. Meaning this miracle story would help teach children how to treat people equally, how to reach out to those who might need it, and how to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

I believe that this miracle story inspired the work of Mary Mackillop as she was never afraid to reach out and help those in need, as Jesus did. Mackillop often did charity work and did her best to improve the education and education of those that are less fortunate in her society which is exactly what Jesus proved in many of his actions and in his teachings.