Our King's Speech (2011-04-24, Easter)

This is my homily for Easter Sunday, 24 April 2011. I am a Catholic chaplain at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) campus and for the FDU Newman Catholic Association. We celebrate Catholic Mass - during Fall and Spring semester - every Sunday Mass (7:30 p.m.) at the Interfaith Chapel, 842 River Road, Teaneck, NJ.

[__01- important msg = high speed__] When there is news to be uncovered which is particularly good or, at least, particularly surprising, we are inclined to all our mind, our heart, and our strength … to figure out what is going on.

We’ll take to the roads with 4WD or good shoes (or high-speed electronic devices) to get the lowdown with a download. Speed is of the essence, right?

Isn’t this true for Mary Magdalene whose devotion and commitment bring her to the tomb first, while it is still dark. Her head start.

Speed is of the essence for Peter and John [the beloved disciple] who race each other to the tomb where Jesus had been buried after his death on the cross.
Seeing the stone rolled away, they further press ahead with notifications and status updates. The tomb is empty. [Click here for more information … ]

[__02, high speed more about msg than person?___] The need for speed could have made these disciples very attached to the message, very attached to the news itself, rather than to the person , Jesus, who brings the news.

For in this Gospel – John chapter 20, verses 1 through 9 – we read only the message, the possibility, the advance publicity that the Lord has been raised from the dead.

Now, Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John have to hasten to find out more. But, their journey is not only about distributing information but, more importantly, discipleship and a relationship with Christ.

And, this personal relationship will take place at, perhaps, they may seem to cover less distance (maybe only 14 miles per hour) but will do so more deeply… right now,
we might say, they are over the legally posted speed.

[__03_-MM at high speed___] Don’t we see, for example, the momentary error which Mary Magdalene makes a short time later, this same Easter morning at the tomb. Mary Magdalene believes Jesus is the gardener.

Is Mary Magdalene rushed?

[__04_-Peter at high speed__] Don’t we see, for example, in Peter the Apostle, a desire to rush through his conversation, his reconciliation with Jesus. Asked three times by Christ, “do you love me?”

Peter says, with a bit of impatience, Yes, Lord … you know that I love you.

[__05 – trans to person___] Currently, on this first Easter day, Peter and John and Mary Magdalene are all about the message. But, soon, they will be concerned with the person of the Messiah.

[__06 – don’t lose personal aspect___] It is tempting to accelerate when the message is very important. But, we may lose something if we forget the personal aspect.

Consider that caring for a loved one who cannot communicate with us…may involve our responsible attentiveness to messages … the challenge is to see a person within those messages as we discharge our responsibilities for care. This would be a similar challenge to a doctor or nurse to treat each person with dignity and compassion..not simply a message to which we either save or … delete.

This personal aspect is not only good for the other person but also for oneself.

[__07_- King ex.__] An example of this was in the history and biography of King George VI of England, crowned in 1936, the monarch whose biography was put on screen in this year’s Oscar-winning film, The King’s Speech, a title which refers to two great hurdles for his majesty the king:

(1) Speeches as public addresses – he is not so good at these

(2) Speech as a human faculty, as a means of communication. Sometimes, he falters, he stutters, he stammers even when there is no microphone in sight.
This king has a big problem; public speaking is part of the package.

[__08 – soln for King, in r’ships__] What we see at first, is the king desire’s for speed, for technique, for an effective therapy based on pronunciation and vocal exercises. His speech therapist is Lionel Logue.

Lionel believes the king needs to slow down, but not only in the way he speaks, the king needs to slow down to understand himself, his own life.

And, the solutions for the king are ultimately manifest not in technique – or the perfect pronunciation of words – but in his relationships with others. His wife loves him unconditionally ..and his teacher not only instructs but also befriends him.

[__09- speech & 2 advices__] At one point, in the late 1930’s, the king must make an important address to the nation regarding the declaration of war, the beginnings of World War II.

The King is still concerned about his technique, his speed, his ability to make the words, to produce the message.

Lionel – the therapist – gives him two pieces of advice about this address which is publicly broadcast in Britain and around the world:

(1) If you get stuck, if you feel a stammer coming on…just stop, pause, take a breath. This will give your words gravity, a seriousness.

(2) Disregard the crowd, the “audience”… speak to one person, tell it to a friend.

[__10-same 2 counsels for Good News __] Couldn’t we say the same about our call to speak the Good News, to share the Good News?

Or, the calling of Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John to publish their updates.

The Gospel includes many commandments about aspects of life. We may stutter or stammer over the right words to say.

What are the right words to love everyone, to be all things to all people (as St. Paul writes), or the right words to love a particular who needs to be affirmed, to be recognized and who also needs to be challenged, to be stretched. Sometimes, love involves a challenge.

What is the right word to repent/apologize ourselves …or to forgive someone who repents?

Tell it to one person.
We tell the Good News not only with high speed vehicles and laptops, but also one person at a time.

The Lord asks us to consider not only the message we broadcast in general but also .. to do what Mary Magdalene and Peter had to do.

That is, how will Mary Magdalene, Peter, you and I bring the Good News to very next person we meet?

If the message makes us stutter or stammer or withdraw from the person we need to help, then PAUSE, pray, and Christ comes to us – as he comes at Pentecost – to help us speak this message – at any speed – in what we say and do.

This Jesus Christ’s Gospel, our King’s Speech.

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