The Queen’s Speech for Easter 2020, “When we gather around the light, it unites us.”

Unprecedented

For the first time in all of her 68-year reign, Her Majesty the Queen of England, Queen of the British Empire, Elizabeth, Britain’s Monarch, delivered a short message for Easter amid the coronavirus pandemic. Likely, the hospitalization of Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson shook the entire Empire, if not the rest of the world as well.

Viruses are no respecter of persons.

Throughout the history of British monarchs, their majesties’ words spoken during a crisis have had a soothing, stabilizing effect on subjects of the realm.

“Easter isn’t canceled this year. Indeed, we need Easter as much as ever.”

“As dark as death can be, particularly for those suffering with grief, light and life are greater.”

Queen Elizabeth, II

In less than 2 minutes, the Queen, ever careful of the words she chooses, used a lit candle as the emblem to represent the power of light overcoming darkness.

The Queen spoke of comfort, endurance, and the belief in better days returning. From someone who on April 21, 2020 will be 94-years-old, Her Majesty’s words carry authority, calm, and grace. She has lived through enormous upheavals in world history as well as in her own family.

Oh, the times and places and faces the Queen has seen.

Elizabeth is the oldest living monarch, the longest serving head of state who continues to serve, and the longest reigning British monarch in history.

In Italy, Andrea Bocelli sang his words.

Along with millions of people around the world, at noon on Easter Sunday, I watched the live streaming on YouTube of Andrea Bocelli singing at the Duomo in Milan.

“On the day in which we celebrate the trust in a life that triumphs, I’m honored and happy to answer ‘Sì’ to the invitation of the City and the Duomo of Milan. I believe in the strength of praying together; I believe in the Christian Easter, a universal symbol of rebirth that everyone – whether they are believers or not – truly needs right now. Thanks to music, streamed live, bringing together millions of clasped hands everywhere in the world, we will hug this wounded Earth’s pulsing heart, this wonderful international forge that is reason for Italian pride. The generous, courageous, proactive Milan and the whole of Italy will be again, and very soon, a winning model, engine of a renaissance that we all hope for. It will be a joy to witness it, in the Duomo, during the Easter celebration which evokes the mystery of birth and rebirth.”

Andrea Bocelli

Accompanied by an organist, from inside the Milan Duomo, his voice filled the otherwise empty space as he sang 3 songs in Italian, including “Ave Maria.”

Watch the 25 minute concert replay here.

The camera moved as Andrea Bocelli sang, alternating between closeups of this celebrated tenor and artistic details inside the Duomo. When I was there in 2015, the cavernous, exalted space and the beauty of the floors beneath my feet struck me as reminders of the majesty of God.

Though parts of the Cathedral were destroyed by bombings during WWII, this largest Duomo in Italy remains a sentinel of worship for all faiths and denominations.

As stirring as it was to hear Andrea Bocelli sing live from inside the Cathedral at the exact moment others around the world heard the sound of his voice, it was more gripping to see this man who has been blind since he was 12-years-old move outside the Duomo, in front of the massive doors, on the steps facing the piazza to sing “Amazing Grace.”

“. . . I once was lost but now am found,

was blind but now I see.”

How sobering and chilling to see drone footage of streets in Paris, London, Rome emptied of people and cars, the bustling world suddenly at a standstill, separated and yet united in our grief for what has been lost to us during this unprecedented shutdown.

What we have lost and yet, can it be that we should gain?

Without question, we cannot regain or replace or refill the days, the hours and the moments of days since our lives were hijacked by coronavirus. Days you and I expected to tick forward with routine, with people, and with personal preferences are gone.

This loss reminded me of part of a poem I memorized as a teenager.

“Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower, we will grieve not, but rather gain strength in what remains behind.”

William Wordsworth, Ode. Intimations of Immortality

While it will take time to process, evaluate and learn from this frightful experience that has affected millions of people around the world, you and I can emerge stronger in our faith as we trust in God.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13

Countless voices rang out like church bells ringing on Easter morning, sounding messages of hope for the world’s future.

I want to listen for the voices of those who unite people. Don’t you?