Reading 1
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.”
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
R. (1) Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Matthew 28:8-15
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb,
fearful yet overjoyed,
and ran to announce the news to his disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them.
They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid.
Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee,
and there they will see me.”
While they were going, 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.
And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: LIES FOR SALE
"They, in turn, convened with the elders and worked out their strategy, giving the soldiers a large bribe with the instructions: 'You are to say, "His disciples came during the night and stole Him while we were asleep." ' " –Matthew 28:12-13
Satan could not stop Jesus from rising from the dead. He cannot chain the Word of God (2 Tm 2:9). However, he has been able to stop many people from believing in the risen Lord and from being witnesses for Him. Satan, the father of lies (Jn 8:44), has done this by purchasing lies, that is, by bribery. When he tried to do this with Jesus, Jesus threw him out (Mt 4:9-10). However, Satan has been more successful with Jesus' followers. Satan purchased at a bargain price Judas' lying kiss by which Judas handed God over for crucifixion (Mt 26:14-15). Satan also bought a whole pack of lies from the soldiers at Jesus' tomb. They pocketed the money and then lied about Jesus' resurrection (Mt 28:15). Throughout history, Satan keeps buying lies and marching out his flunkies to deny Jesus' resurrection. Isn't that what we see in our "culture of death"?
However, there have always been a few people who won't be bought – people who will witness for the risen Christ at any cost. What's your price? Can you be bought? If so, Satan will buy you, your lies, your silence, and your soul. Be willing to give up anything and everything to be a witness for the risen Christ.
PRAYER: Father, I serve You, not money (Mt 6:24).
PROMISE: "Do not be afraid! Go and carry the news." –Mt 28:10
PRAISE: Alleluia! Jesus is risen. He is alive! He lives forever!
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