Standing by the cross of Jesus was His Mother.

"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother."  (John 19: 25 NIV)

Some of us have watched on  television the execution of a criminal by lethal injection or by some other means.  I have never identified a mother among the small crowd watching the most gruesome sight ever.

When the prophet Simeon said to Mary, "your own soul a sword will pierce," (Luke 2: 35),  did Mary take this literally?
Her destiny in the plan of our salvation was to stand close by the cross of Jesus, hear His very last words and share intimately His suffering.  After 3 hours on the cross, Jesus said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son." Then to the disciple, John, "Behold, your mother."  (John 19: 27)

With this great example of Mary, may we accept with serenity the sufferings we can not avoid.

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