The Big Lie
Monday in the Octave of Easter
My dear encountered couples:
The chief priests and elders of the Jews were given another chance to arrive at the truth of who Jesus was. The soldiers guarding the tomb reported to them what had happened. But they were so intent on having their own selfish plans carried out, and not God’s, that they chose stupidity over common sense. Even if they admitted to themselves that a serious mistake had been made in crucifying Jesus, they decided on a cover up story. They told the soldiers to spread the report that while they were sleeping the apostles stole the body of Jesus. Sleeping witnesses! Have you ever witnessed anything while you were asleep?
We all have done wrong, and we might do more in the future, whether intentionally or unintentionally. It takes a person of strong character and humility to admit to himself that a mistake was made. To admit it to others, that takes heroic courage. For it is human to immediately start looking for a way out of what could be a very embarrassing situation. We tend to rationalize what we’ve done. The temptation to cover up can overwhelm us. Once we give in to it, we get deeper and deeper into trouble with many sleepless nights. We get farther and farther from God.
Learn from the stupidity of others, like these Jewish leaders, who try to cover up their evil deeds. Let the Holy Spirit move you to repentance. Then go from there. You will come out of it a much better and happier person. Never live a life of lies.
