“Not Roman practice”

“Ruining people is considered sport”

Thus wrote a politician’s friend in his suicide note.

How true this can often be in today’s world of tabloids, vigilante journalism, blood-sport blogging, politics of personal destruction, and neighborhood gossip.

How different today’s world can often be from the high standard of justice articulated by the governor of an ancient empire in today’s first reading (Acts 25:13b-21):

I answered them that it was not Roman practice
to hand over an accused person
before he has faced his accusers
and had the opportunity
to defend himself against their charge.

How forgetful we all can be of our own imperfections and sinfulness.

How thankful we should be to our forgiving God, as we hear in today’s Responsorial (Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19:20ab):

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.

As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, be merciful to me – a sinner.