An Upward Look
Lent 4B
March 26, 2006

An Upward Look
by Tom Cox

The Irish tendency to speak well of the dead is well known. In fact, dying is probably the best thing you can do for your reputation in this regard. They tell of one community where the worst man in the village died. Characteristically everyone went to the funeral, but silence reigned when it came to saying something nice about the deceased. It was broken only by one man who pronounced to general approval - 'His brother was worse!'

Possibly true, but comparing ourselves with each others’ behaviour is rarely helpful. Something to think about as Easter confessions beckon. Even when it comes to comprehending crimes committed by humans on each other, we blame everything from upbringing to social deprivation, right up to music, movies and the Internet.

We rarely think of sin. We balk at the idea of sin. We're not that bad, we protest. We generally have no problem admitting that we are not perfect – who is. Problems arise when we look to ourselves for the remedy. But sin has always been there from the time of Moses till today.

As Lent progresses, it is time to look up and out of ourselves to the answer God gives. Paid for on a cross in Palestine almost two millennia ago. “Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son.”

(Comments to Tom at tomascox@eircom.net )