You killed him, but God raised him to life
We all make mistakes, but the biggest mistake is not to acknowledge that we are mistaken. Today’s readings have a valuable lesson about the value of admitting mistakes and the terrible consequences of failing to do so.
After the Pharisees had Jesus crucified, and after he had been buried, they remembered that he had said that on the third day he would rise back to life. So, they went to Pilate to request that his grave be guarded, so that his disciples might not steal the body and then claim that he has risen. Pilate not only granted their request, but he also allowed them to post their own guards. That way, there was no danger of claiming that the soldiers had been bribed to give away the body. When, as we hear in today’s first reading, their own soldiers reported that Jesus had risen, the Pharisees had no excuse left to claim that what Jesus had said was not true. This was their opportunity to repent and believe in him. instead, they chose to cover their shame and protect their reputation. They bribed the soldiers to report that Jesus’ body had been stolen by the disciples. We are told that this is the story that stands among the Jews up to today. On account of this cover-up, generations of God’s people have not accepted the Savior God had promised them.
In the first reading, Peter proclaims to the crowds gathered for Pentecost, the mistake they had made of handing over Jesus to be crucified. He had done so much good among them. Many of them were beneficiaries: the blind could see; the lame could walk. The deaf could hear. Even some who had been dead were alive again. Those who had not been direct beneficiaries were relatives, friends, and acquaintances of those who had been. Others had heard the stories, for it was less than two months since Jesus had been killed. In spite of the good Jesus had done to them, they had handed him over to the pagans as a criminal, preferring the release of a notorious murderer. Yet God had brought him back to life. When in their remorse, the people asked Peter what they should do, he answered that they repent and believe in Jesus. This is the only sensible thing to do. This is what Peter himself had done after making the blunder of denying his Master.
This is the sensible thing for us to do whenever we discover that we have made a mistake. Cover-up engenders other blunders as it did in the case of the Jewish leaders. Admission of mistakes brings down God’s mercy. God who is capable of drawing good out of evil, draws good out of our humble admission of weaknesses as he did in the case of those who repented after handing over Christ to be crucified.
