"He did evil in the sight of the Lord, just as his ancestors had done." This comment on the career of the young king Jehoiachin is inevitably followed by the account of his surrender to Nebuchadnezzar and his consequent exile. Evil of itself begets suffering and punishment.

Perhaps the eighteen year old king was too young to know any better and simply followed his forbearers. But, in the end, everyone has to take responsibility for one's own sins.

Our own world is no better: one generation repeats the sins of previous generations, whether in politics or economics or morality. Not surprisingly, good people grow weary of it all, and, like the Psalmist, are driven to wondering "O Lord, how long? Will you be angry for ever?" It is not God who is angry: it is human beings who seem incapable of breaking the vicious cycle of evildoing. It is Saturday of Holy Week as I write this. On the day after the Crucifixion, a Sabbath day, it must have seemed to the disciples that God had abandoned them and there was no hope.

When our world seems locked in this desolate Saturday, let us be encouraged with the mystery of Christ amongst us, our hope of glory (Col. 1:27).