Dark accusations and hard questions

In today's first reading (1 Kings 21:1-16), a man in a prominent position is falsely accused by two witnesses. The people turn against the man and put him to death.

There are some questions that are difficult in every age: Who is guilty? Who is innocent? Who is a victim? Who is a false accuser? What if that happened to me? Who is at fault? How can we be sure? How can the helpless be protected? How can the innocent be protected? How can people be healed?

It is important for us - as moral human beings and most especially as Christians - to be thoughtful, diligent, and firm in asking these questions and in always seeking the help of God who is infinitely merciful and inescapably just.