Easter Monday

Readings: Acts 2:14,22-33; Psalm 15(16):1-2,5,7-11; Matthew 28:8-15

Apparently, each of us lies at least once or twice a day, although prolific liars will, of course, lie in greater numbers!  The lies we often tell may be such seemingly trivial things as providing a false complement to someone, or concealing how we really feel when asked, ‘How are you today?’  And then there are other lies when people or institutions have gone out of their way to cover up something, a lie which has serious consequences for all involved.

When Jesus was on trial, Pontius Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?’  Jesus gave no answer.  As the women who visited the tomb of the first Easter Day return with joy to the others at encountering the Risen Lord, there are backroom deals being done elsewhere.  A story is concocted to cover up the most recent happenings and, after an exchange of money and the promise of protection, the soldiers start to circulate the story that the disciples of Jesus have stolen his body under cover of darkness.  There is, though, quite a difference between a lie and a perspective.

There are always different perspectives of the same event. News outlets can give varying angles to the same story. Witnesses to a crime can give very different descriptions of what happened. Indeed, each of the four gospels provide a slightly different perspective on the events of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, each written at a different time, for a different audience, but each seeking to reveal the truth.  When Peter spoke to the crowds on Pentecost Sunday, filled with the Holy Spirit, he shared the truth of what he had experienced and witnessed. He talked to them with conviction about Jesus the Nazarene who died and was raised to the heights of Heaven.  ‘God raised this man Jesus to life,’ he said, ‘and all of us are witnesses to that.’  Whilst we may not have the eloquence and confidence of Peter, each of us can try to live lives that are authentic, lives which reveal something of the Truth in which we believe – not only with our words but with our actions.  We too can be active and living witnesses to the Truth as we rejoice in the Lord in whom we take refuge, and who is our portion, our cup, our prize (Psalm 16:1-2)

MAKING CONNECTIONS

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