My Jesus, it was a great
sorrow to realize Your pain caused Mary so much grief.
As Redeemer, You wanted her to share in Your pain for
mankind. When You glanced at each other in unutterable
suffering, what gave you both the courage to carry on
without the least alleviation - without anger at such
injustice?
It seems as if you desired to suffer every possible pain
to give me an example of how to suffer when my time
comes. What a humiliation for You when Your mother saw
you in such a pitiable state - weak - helpless - at the
mercy of sinful men - holiness exposed to evil in all
hideousness.
Did every moment of that short encounter seem like an
eternity? As I see so much suffering in the world, there
are times I think it is all hopeless. There is an
element of lethargy in my prayers for mankind that says
"I'll pray, but what good will it do? The sick grow
sicker and the hungry starve. " I think of that glance
between You and Mary - the glance that said, "Let us
give this misery to the Father for the salvation of
souls. The Father's power takes our pain and frustration
and renews souls, saves them for a new life - a life of
eternal joy, eternal happiness. It is worth it all."
Give perseverance to the sick so they can carry the
cross of frustration and agony with love and resignation
for the salvation of others.
Amen
