Lies

Today’s Gospel Text:  So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Hail!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed; and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. Matt 28:8-15

Reflection: Lies are a way of life with most humans.

I do not know if there is any research or if there is any statistical data on this subject of lying:  I am sure that 99 percent of the people may have lied at sometime in their life.

Even if we don’t lie, we may at times still allow a lie to spread, if it is to our advantage, and would not silence anyone because of the benefit it may accrue us.

There are some such lies which may be spoken and proclaimed even on behalf of the community or a community may choose to live in lie, many a times unaware of the truth.

Sometimes, we may discover that there are whole religions that are based on lies, mixed with an element of a ray of truth, making it more dangerous for its adherents.

The negative effect of a lie can not only last a life time but for generations to come. So what has been proclaimed at the beginning of ages may still continue in our day. 

Why do humans speak the lie rather than the truth and why do sometimes whole communities speak and proclaim a lie rather than the truth?

The insecurities of life could be one of the reasons but the other reason could be the good of the other.

The problem arises when one asks what is that good of the other.  Is what we think or imagine being really the good of the other?

Here, in this passage, the chief priests and the elders indeed seem insecure of their religion and through their religion also of their positions.

Could it also be that some of these elders also thought it right to support them because they felt it was good to do so in order to protect their religion and it is for the good of the people that they do so otherwise they may be led astray by the dedicated Disciples of Christ?

No matter what good it may accrue the other; the end cannot justify the means.

Prayer: Stretch forth thy hand from on high, rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of aliens, whose mouths speak lies, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. Ps 144:7-8

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