They gave a large sum of money to the soldiers

1 APRIL (Mt 28,8-15)

Money is a real leprosy of soul and spirit. Who lets his heart be grabbed by it, is capable of any crime, transgression, wickedness, evil and crime. The money leprosy of today is destroying the world, because it is destroying the human body, is modifying it in its own nature beyond repair. Society is stifled by this leprosy that is spreading like wildfire. Today, this leprosy has different names: robbery, theft, fraud, deceit, manipulation, forgery, receiving stolen goods, hoarding, speculation, racketeering, protection money, drug cartels, organized crime and gangs. Those who do these things are all lepers, who spread the poison of death around them. The lust of money is truly the root of all evils.

Money leprosy drove Judas to sell his Master, his Lord, his God for thirty miserable coins, which then he could not even enjoy them. But no one enjoys the fruits of his sin. Sin is a real leprosy that physically kills our flesh, consumes it like a blazing fire; more than a blast furnace, melts and produces a true liquefaction in it. So great is the damage that this leprosy produces in our guts.

The same money leprosy causes some soldiers to sell the historical truth of the resurrection of Jesus. They were placed right for this in custody of the grave, so that no one would altered the historical truth of the death of Jesus. Their leprosy constitutes them their own forgers and of their own ministry and office. Sent to keep custody, they say they have not kept custody. They claim to have slept. They sleep, they do not see, they accuse the innocent, they deny the historical truth. That is the fruit money leprosy produces in them.

Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this 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. They 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).

What happens with the soldiers, can happen with each of us. The Letter of Jude tells us that this can also happen with the prophecy and thus also with the teaching, the gift of doctrine and instruction. Let us read what the apostle of the Lord reveals us: “Woe unto them! Because they set on the way of Cain, and for profit, they let themselves go to the seductions of Balaam, and they got lost in the rebellion of Core “(Judges 1:11). Balaam was a pagan diviner and according to an ancient tradition was induced to curse the people of God for a hearty gain promised by Balak. The Lord intervened and he had to bless those who the Lord had blessed.

We know that simony was and is a plague in the Church. Today, it is less obvious than yesterday, but we are still talking of simony, when you give a ministry behind a spiritual gain, for friendship, interest, through influence, imposition and due to the place one occupies. Even in the Church the leprosy of money can take her children and drag them on the road to perdition.

True denial of our ministry is when to earn the friendship of someone, his favours, we refrain from prophesying the Gospel of Christ the Lord. The sacred ministers of the Word must proclaim the truth at the cost of their lives. For Jesus wants them poor in spirit, pure at heart, clean of all leprosy of money or other human favours. Who is without this great virtue in the heart, is either suffering from some defect, before, or later will forget the poverty of the Gospel and will stick his heart to leprosy.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints save us from this leprosy.