According to Matthew, the guards who had been stationed at the tomb saw the angel and the stone rolled away. They saw it. With their own eyes. The same guards that the chief priests commissioned to be there at the tomb. And so when these same guards returned to the chief priests and reported what they saw - the angel, the stone, the bright light…the chief priests still didn’t believe.
Belief is a choice.
Matthew 28:11-15
Now as the women were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. They met with the elders and decided to give a large sum of money to the soldiers. They told them, “Say that Jesus’ disciples came at night and stole his body while you were sleeping. And if the governor hears about this, we will take care of it with him so you will have nothing to worry about.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were told. And this report has spread throughout all Judea to this very day.
Prayer
God,
On this day of thanksgiving in this nation, I come to you with a heart full of gratitude for the abundance of this land: its beauty, its richness, and its sustenance. It really is beautiful for spacious skies and mountains and streams and oceans and all that. Thank you.
And yet, at the same time, I am compelled that fewer should have suffered for my people’s arrival here AND that more should even now benefit from its benefit.
So if it’s possible, Lord, I’d like to hold in both hands gratitude for community and food and at the same time, hope that more people can enjoy it.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.