Gospel Reflection by Fr Michael Tate

Gospel Matthew 26:14 - 27:66 The Passion

Lowly Prince of Peace

Jesus entered Jerusalem, not as a warrior in the tradition of King David as many had hoped for, but riding simply on a donkey. The disciples and the crowd applauded him, but they proved fickle in their support.

On the other hand, Jesus remained steadfast in his commitment to non-violent revolutionary change of the religious and political systems so as to establish the reign of God. 

Why did he renounce marshalling human and angelic warriors to further his cause?

First, Jesus embodied God-for-us, and God does not want the destruction of those he has created out of love. Second, Jesus had a premonition that an armed revolt would lead to the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersal of the Jewish people (as occurred in 70AD).

Third, another Gospel (Luke) recounts that as Jesus laboured up Mount Calvary he turned to some wailing women and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, weep rather for yourselves and for your children.’ He knew that they suffer grievously in armed uprising. This is seen in barbaric reality in our own time with women being tortured and raped in campaigns of terror, trafficked into sexual slavery, suffering the loss of sons, husband and lovers.

We could take a moment to pray that the Church of the 21st century, successor of the pacifist Church of the first three centuries, may enter on a new period of reflection on these issues, grappling with the desire to protect the innocent, yet always challenged by the man on a donkey, Divine Prince of Peace.

© Fr Michael Tate; mtate@bigpond.com

Rev Prof Michael Tate graduated in Law from the University of Tasmania in 1968, and in Theology from Oxford University in 1971. He lectured at the University of Tasmania from 1972-78, being Dean of the Faculty of Law in 1977-78. He was a Senator for Tasmania from 1978-93, being Federal Minister for Justice from 1987-93. He served as Ambassador to The Hague and the Holy See from 1993-96. He then returned to Australia and was ordained in May 2000 and has been a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Hobart since then. He is currently Vicar General in the Archdiocese and is an Honorary Professor of Law at the University of Tasmania where he lectures in International Humanitarian Law.