REFLECTIONS TODAY

Money is very much involved in the plan to destroy Jesus. The chief priests paid Judas Iscariot 30 pieces of silver to hand Jesus over to them (Mt 26:15). They thought they have succeeded in getting rid of Jesus by having the Romans crucify him. But God frustrates their evil plan. On the first day of the week, the Roman guards report to them that the tomb of Jesus is empty. They do not panic, however. They again resort to money to bribe the guards, telling them to spread the fake news that Jesus’ disciples came by night and stole the body while they were asleep. The evangelist writes that in his community and among the Jews, this was the story that has circulated. We see here disinformation at work, not only in our time; it was true even in the case of Jesus. Truth is being covered by lies by people who have no qualms of conscience, sacrificing truth on the altar of deceit and selfish interests. Matthew implies that the hostile apologetics that has developed among the Jewish circle against the resurrection is really futile. There is nothing one can do to oppose God’s design in Jesus. Truth will eventually triumph over falsehood and lies, and it will set men and women free.
 

First Reading • Acts 2:14, 22-33 
 

On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 

“You who are children of Israel, hear these words. Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him. But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it. For David says of him: I saw the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted; my flesh, too, will dwell in hope, because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence. My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption. God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. Exalted at the right hand of God, he poured forth the promise of the Holy Spirit that he received from the Father, as you both see and hear.”

Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.