Do we Give a Chance for the Accused to Prove their Innocence?

 

7th Week of Easter Friday

Acts 25:13-21

Meditation

Do we Give a Chance for the Accused to Prove their Innocence?

We accuse people from different walks of life. Accusing is at one level, and the other level is to give an opportunity to free them, whether guilty or innocent. Most of the time, people are accused and not given a chance to prove themselves right or wrong, or their situation and condition. It is unjust to condemn people without proving their guilt. Many in the world are accused innocently and condemned for life.

Accusations can be out of Jealousy or to spoil the good name of others. It could be that there is some evidence, but the evidence is not enough to accuse and condemn. There are people and situations; on being accused unjustly, people’s lives have been ruined beyond repair. It is evil that is at work in accusing good people and condemning them for life. Let us not accuse anyone falsely. It is a good rule to give a chance to those accused of a fair trial and due punishment for correction.

Do we accuse people and not allow them to prove themselves right?

Gospel: Jn 21:15-19

Meditation

In the gospel today Jesus asks Peter the same question three times:  Do you love me?  When Jesus asks Peter the third time Peter feels bad and tells Jesus, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you”. After every answer of Peter, Jesus tells him to ‘feed his lambs’. Then he tells him, how his life is going to be in the future. At the end he tells him to follow him. Jesus gave the responsibility of the Church to Peter.

Do we hear Jesus’ questions to trust us with responsibility?

Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb