.
When we in New Zealand and Australia mark Anzac day we are not glorifying war but instead solemnly commemorating those who have died in and suffered through past tragedies of war.
An Anzac gathering is a dawn moment of peace and a communal and personal vow that we will never again descend into the feral violence of war.
As a young adult the popular TV series M*A*S*H honed my perspective when the lead character Hawkeye regularly highlighted the evil of war.
In Hawkeye’s words:
“War isn’t Hell. War is war, and Hell is Hell. And of the two, war is a lot worse… There are no innocent bystanders in Hell. War is chock full of them.”
And since the news early yesterday morning we have once again been thrown into the confusing questions which always accompany war. Is there right and wrong? Yes there is wrong but is anyone right? Is war ever justified or justifiable?
Perhaps our clarity is blurred when we feel satisfaction that a despot is removed from power. But this can never be justified when the violence is wielded by other leaders behaving despotically.
While in Catholic Social Teaching there was once an (albeit cautious) acceptance of a (so named) “just war”. Pope Francis in 2020 didn’t shy from speaking truth:
“We can no longer think of war as a solution, because its risks will probably always be greater than its supposed benefits. In view of this, it is very difficult nowadays to invoke the rational criteria elaborated in earlier centuries to speak of the possibility of a “just war”. Never again war!” Fratelli Tutti 258
The often used euphemism “military action” is also a disconcerting deception.
War is war and it is worse than hell.
Even Fr. Mulcahy the M*A*S*H chaplain maintained a polite perspective (we rightly expect better of a priest). His calmness in the midst of war is a bit like the New Zealand Government’s craftily choreographed and sycophantic response yesterday in their Iran Statement.
Twenty-Four hours after the outbreak of war the United States Catholic Bishops’ lead story on their website was not about the war but of crowds turning up to view the bones of St. Francis of Assisi on display this month in Assisi. While on display the bones of this great saint are not able to turn in their grave, but Francis is remembered 800 years after his death because he, as an instrument of Jesus, gave his life in the cause of nonviolence.
In M*A*S*H (set in the Korean war 70 years ago) Hawkeye is the real prophet for 2026 as he continues: while Hell is reserved for sinners, war indiscriminately punishes the innocent.
And Pope Leo is on the same page.
On the Feast of the Assumption last year Leo spoke with Religious Leaders at Rome’s Colosseum:
“We must dare peace! Even if the world turns a deaf ear to this appeal, we are certain that God will hear our prayer and the cries of so many who suffer. God wants a world without war. He will free us from this evil!”
There is a popular hymn which directs us to what we can do in the face of international conflict: “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”
And this will be my daily prayer as in these days I take the well-known and too frequently ignored prayer of St. Francis as my mantra:
Lord,
make me
an instrument
of your peace.
As always your comments are welcome below.
+++
Upcoming Cafe Gatherings:
Send a name, date, place and time and I’ll share your invitation. Just initiate a gathering, send me the info, and turn up to meet with anyone else who wants to take an hour to chat about their experience of God.
Thursday 5 March 2026 10.30am
The Cafe at Harrison’s Pekapeka Rd Waikanae
Catherine
A very apt reflection today, yes wholeheartedly, my motto and prayer too, is Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
Several years ago I went to Assisi and when I walked into the basilica of Santa degli Angeli, (which was built around the Porziuncola, built by St Francis). I experienced an overwhelming feeling of peace, I felt that I could have stayed there forever. His desire for peace is still very present there today.
I too try to be a peacemaker by my actions .So my prayer too is “Lord
make me an instrument of your peace.”
Thank you John! Beautifully expressed,… Despots are found everywhere, and in light of today’s Gospel we are asked to forgive just as our Father forgives us! It is so hard!!!!
Bishop Michael’s daily Angelus for World Peace may be just a small way we can all help Thanks for your thoughts this morning Fr John
Yesterday as we sang the song make me a channel of your peace at Mass I thought that in this year dedicate to St Francis perhaps as a faith community we at least could dedicate ourselves to praying this prayer, believing that God answers prayer and peace would reign. As a child I loved to read this prayer dedicated to St Francis in my little after communion prayer book. I am going to print it off and give it to others to share. Thanks too John for calling out our government and those who profess war brings peace and justice it doesn’t.
A strong gutsy response. We need leaders like this. Thank you
Thank you for your thoughts -my response is a big Amen
Hawkeyes words particularly touched me.
me too
Thank you Fr for your reflection this morning. I am united with millions of others who daily at 4pm N.Z time throughout the world are praying to God for peace in the world, just as people prayed together during the second world war. We must start with peace in our hearts and homes.
Thankyou John.
Reading this reflection I realised how disheartened, not to say despairing, I felt about the ghastly situation in the Middle East. It has felt as if there are no depths humanity won’t plumb in its war frenzy.
This is the inspiration I needed to hang on to faith and hope and love, and to trust in the possibility of peace.
As Diane says above, a strong gutsy response. We do indeed need leaders like this.
Nga mihi nui
I don’t agree with war and love to pray St Francis of Assisi Prayer. However as a mother and grandmother of family living in UAE I was felt comforted when I read the NZ. Government statement as it mentioned that their thoughts were with NZ families who have family members affected by the current situation they find themselves in.
I am also comforted by the prayers of my fellow parishioners, friends and family.
So very true I really like the saying ‘there are no innocent bystanders in hell, war is chock full of them’. So very sad. Thank you John
This is absolutely brilliant and exceptional well expressed Fr John.
Thanks for the reminder of Hawkeyes.
We pray Lord make me an instrument of your peace daily.
I’m working on becoming so.
Anne
That’s a cracker of a column, John, and I will be using some of your comments and references in today’s email to our political leaders.
Thank you John – I join with the comments above. My heart is breaking in relation to this new war.