Annual Anzac Commemoration

Mass Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne,
on Sunday, 23rd April, 2006, at 11.00am

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I extend a warm welcome to all who are here on this second Sunday of the Easter season for our annual Anzac commemoration; our community leaders, the President of the Returned Services League, Major General David McLachlan, representatives of services and community.

At Easter, as we celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ, we can never forget the horrible deaths on Anzac Day in 1915 in the seemingly futile conquest to capture the Dardanelles from Turkey.

Jesus died and rose again.  From the awful carnage of war has come a national identity in Australia which has shown great courage in adversity, tremendous community spirit and the ability for us to see each other as brothers and sisters.

As we call to mind our sins and celebrate this Mass, remembering those who have died and the families who have suffered loss, let us pray for all Australians that we may be articulate in our proclaiming that what unites us is far greater than any division.

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today is a moment of memory, fervent prayer and thanksgiving.  Jesus died on the cross and he united with him those who shared in the awful squalid conditions of the attack of the Dardanelles and the huge bloodshed of the First World War in France in a carnage of young human lives, which the world has never forgotten.

Whenever we consider war we need to keep in mind, not merely the futility of it all, but also the genuine courageous service of those who have given themselves that others may have life and security.

From the absolute failure of the cross came Jesus’ rising and bringing peace in the midst of challenge and conflict to those who would believe in him.  From the tremendous failure of Gallipoli in 1915 have emerged at first simple stories of gallantry and then a whole development of an Australian identity, which is both a recognition of the dignity and brotherhood of people, but also a stimulus to courage and endurance, which has typified the succeeding history of our country.

The American author, William Willimon, challenged Christians when he said, “The quality of the Church’s shared life is evidence for the truthfulness of the fact that Jesus rose.”  And he said, “The most eloquent testimony to the reality of Jesus risen is not an empty tomb or a well orchestrated pageant on Easter Sunday, but a group of people whose life together is so radically transformed and so completely different that there can be no other explanation than that something decisive has occurred in human history.”

As Australians, again and again, in bushfire, famine, flood, natural disaster, we have seen the gallantry of people ready to go to extreme lengths to reach out to their brothers and sisters.  This is something which is very Christian, but which typifies our nation.  Even the readiness to reach out to a very diverse community and to welcome others through migration is a further reminder that coming from Gallipoli is an acceptance of people as brothers and sisters, something which cuts through the selfishness and anonymity of the big city where we want to live our own life and turn away when someone is suffering or when there is violence or hatred.

This might well be summed up in the words of Roger Schutz, the founder of the ecumenical monastic community of Taize in Burgundy in France.  When Bishop Deakin and I emerged from meeting Pope John Paul in March 2001, we came across Brother Roger as he was going to visit the Pope.  Later he was murdered in his community by a deranged woman.  He said, “Never resign yourself to the scandal of the separation of Christians, also readily professing love for their neighbour; yet remaining divided.  Make the unity of Christ’s body your passionate concern.” 

In a similar and specifically Christian way Pope John Paul II stressed the importance of Christian unity as a necessary component for effectively proclaiming the Good News.  “Our divisions prevent our neighbours from hearing the Gospel as they should.”

The challenge of Anzac Day is to pray for those who have died defending our freedom, whether in the World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq or elsewhere, to respect and honour those whose service to our country and to our freedom even places their lives in danger.  And to take from the Gospel the Lord’s wish of peace and mission to see that the resources that our country gives us are not presented in isolation, but are given us to be treasured and used for the people who are our brothers and sisters.  Believing in Jesus leads to being God’s children, capable of loving one another as true brothers and sisters.  This day of focus recognises gallantry in war, but also endurance, respect for others and readiness to give of ourselves in bushfire, flood.  This I believe can characterise the noblest aspects of Australia. 

Maybe we do not talk about it enough because behind it lies something which is deeply Christian; the readiness to give without counting the cost, to fight without heeding the wounds, to know no other love than that which motivated Jesus to die for us that we might live and might be inspired through our leadership to be giving life, encouragement and a continued search for truth to others.

May this Anzac Commemoration teach us to value what we have received, to recognise in others so many gifts, to encourage and hold dear those gifts, that Australia as a nation may be ready and generous in its ongoing service, the same service for which others gave their lives on 25th April, 1915, ninety-one years ago.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.