This Week's Reflection 
REFLECTION by Fr Michael Tate
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Keep Rowing!
The disciples had started off from the Jewish side of the Sea of Galilee, familiar territory. Jesus guided them through the stormy situation to ‘the other side’, the pagan side, unfamiliar territory where they would not have felt at home.
Buffeted by storms, the Church is in the midst of a journey from familiar to unfamiliar territory.
Some of the storms include a new attitude to authority, to gender roles. There is anger and suspicion at sexual abuse and its cover up. Many of our contemporaries are openly hostile or contentedly indifferent.
In all these situations and many more, Our Lord will not allow us the indulgence of nostalgic yearning for the safety of the past country inhabited by the Church. We are not to throw Tradition with a capital 'T' overboard. To jettison the spirit-led experience of the Church over two millennia will not help us. Discerning tradition from nostalgia, we must make our way to the other shore.
We could pause for a moment, resolving to row with courage because we know we are in the same boat as Peter whom our Risen Lord assures:
‘Do not be afraid.’
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© 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 an Honorary Professor of Law at the University of Tasmania where he lectures in International Humanitarian Law.