Trouble’s Brewing

21 Apr

Some of the guard went into the city
and told the chief priests all that had happened.
The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel;
then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
telling them, “You are to say,
‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’
And if this gets to the ears of the governor,
we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.  (Mt 28:11-15a)

The resurrection, which we celebrate all week throughout the Octave of Easter, was not “good news” for everyone.

In today’s Gospel, we heard about the problems that the resurrection of Jesus caused for the chief priests and elders of the people.  They were beside themselves.  If, after all, Jesus did rise from the dead, they were going to have way too much trouble on their hands.

They did everything that they could to prevent the news being spread about Jesus resurrection.

Instead, they tried to spread the story of a resurrection “hoax” — that the disciples stole the body of Jesus just to make it appear as if Jesus were raised from the dead.

Many people believed that story.  Many people still do.

We know that Jesus rose from the dead.  We have a surety of that because of our faith.  As we celebrate that this week, let us make sure that we are willing to spread the Good News to all those we encounter.

FAITH ACTION:  What do you have to say about the Lord?  Are you going to keep quiet or will you tell people the Good News of our God?