WHEN he was a young man a Liverpool friend of mine made friends with an elderly lady in his church, who he looked up to greatly.

She was a bright, energetic, joyful and committed Christian in her 70s.

She became a kind of Christian grandmother to him. When he needed advice, or when he needed a shoulder to cry on, she was the person he turned to.

But she was more than just a good friend to him. She was a kind of icon, an example, or, as we say today, a role model. For him she was everything that a perfect Christian should be.

One day when they were talking he happened to mention another friend of his who was a Roman Catholic. At this point he was advised strongly not to have Roman Catholic friends and then she poured out a stream of verbal abuse against Roman Catholics in general.

My friend was devastated. His role model had disintegrated before his eyes. He was amazed that a person who was so good in everything else could harbour such hatred in her heart.

After he got over the shock he still carried on his friendship with this elderly lady, but he could no longer look up to her as a role model. He now saw that she had her weaknesses and sins just like the rest of us.

Sin is never a popular doctrine. We all acknowledge that we are not perfect, that's easy. But not very many of us admit that we are sinners and that we need to repent and be cleansed.

Advent is the time leading up to Christmas, when Christians are asked to look within to their deep prejudices and sins and to repent of them. It is a time for stocktaking. It is a time to be honest with ourselves. It is a time to be honest before God and before our neighbours.

Looking into our own hearts is not an easy thing. We can so easily fool ourselves that it is always others who are in the wrong. It is like the driver who, once he gets behind the wheel, always thinks that it is all the other road users who are the idiots.

To prepare for Christmas is more than just getting the shopping in and the presents wrapped. It is about examining ourselves to see if we are ready to receive the love and forgiveness of God.

Michael Williams, Vicar of Bolton Parish Church