REPETITION IS THE MOTHER OF LEARNING
“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you.” -Luke 24:44
One of the most striking things about the various Gospel appearances of the Risen Christ is how the Lord doesn’t offer any lengthy discourses, but very simple reminders of what He had already spoken. Jesus’ words and gestures after the Resurrection are rather repetitious and predictable as He offers the gift of Peace and as He shows His wounds to His Disciples. Even as He speaks of the Holy Spirit who will be given after His departure, Jesus says His task will be to remind them of what has already been said.
Just when we might hope for some new explanation or teaching, the Lord repeats what has been said in various times and places in His public ministry. But note that the remarkable effect of this repetition is “open[ing] their minds to understand the Scripture” (Lk 24:45)!
The most important things in life bear repeating again and again. This is how we come to understand. This is especially true in the Church’s liturgical life which is largely made of up repeating the various prayers, rituals, readings and feasts over and again. St. Paul understood this well when he wrote, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes” (1 Cor 11:26). Repetition opens us to the deepest kind of knowledge.
When I was a child being raised as a Protestant, I periodically attended Mass with my grandmother and extended family. I was consistently struck by how the Mass seemed very repetitious. My own experience of going to church was characterized by variability and spontaneity, but the Catholic Mass was largely unchanged whenever I attended. This got me thinking that maybe its consistency and repetition was a sign of its real depth.
In an age that values novelty above almost all else, perhaps the Risen Lord wants us to be like children who are content to know the simple truths that He died and rose again to teach us. As G.K. Chesterton once wrote,
“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony.”
Most of you know that Chesterton is my favorite writer who I often refer to in my homilies and writing. I wanted to offer an invitation to any who may be curious about the St. Anthony Falls Chesterton Society which meets at monthly at St. Clement. Our April meeting falls on Tuesday, April 30th from 7:00-8:30pm. The format will be somewhat different than usual, as we will welcome a special guest, Col. Buzz Kriesel, a local Chestertonian and military man who will offer a presentation entitled, "Things Worth Fighting For: Chesterton's Great War Ballads". He will be focusing on Chesterton’s Ballad of the White Horse, Lepanto and Ballad of St. Barbara. No pre-reading is required to participate. If you would like to be added to the society’s e-mail list for notices of future readings, send a note to minneapolischestertonsociety@gmail.com.
Let’s keep learning!
-Fr. Howe, Pastor