DAY 8 - EASTER & THE GOOD NEWS

GOSPEL > John 20:1-9      On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

DAY 8 > MEDITATION - When there is news to be uncovered which is particularly good or, at least, particularly surprising, we are inclined to use all our mind, our heart, and our strength …to figure out what is going on.

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. This is a 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.

In this Gospel we read only the possibility 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. They are called to take their feet off the accelerator.

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?

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.

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.

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 the 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.

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.

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.

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, the Good News of Resurrection, our King’s Speech.

DAY 8 > REFLECTIONS AND QUESTIONS

 Catholic Catechism, n. 644  Even when faced with the reality of the risen Jesus the disciples are still doubtful, so impossible did the thing seem: they thought they were seeing a ghost. "In their joy they were still disbelieving and still wondering." Thomas will also experience the test of doubt and St. Matthew relates that during the risen Lord's last appearance in Galilee "some doubted." Therefore the hypothesis that the Resurrection was produced by the apostles' faith (or credulity) will not hold up. On the contrary their faith in the Resurrection was born, under the action of divine grace, from their direct experience of the reality of the risen Jesus. 

 DAY 8 – QUESTION 1 – In what ways am I called to die to myself, die to my own desires, and rise to new life each day?

 DAY 8 – QUESTION 2 – In what ways do I need God’s grace to believe the Good News?