From today’s Scripture: “Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”—Jn 19:25

I shared this Scripture passage with my sister when a tragedy hit her family. Grief had paralyzed her. Concerned about her physical health and wanting to lift her spirits, I pointed out how Mary’s standing by the cross could strengthen a grieving person. Mary is not sitting down defeated. She is not on her knees demanding answers and clamoring for revenge. She is standing. It is a posture of courage and resiliency amidst death without ignoring or minimizing the pain.

I invite us to remember Mary standing by the cross when our grief seems paralyzing, when every fiber of our being desires vengeance, when we feel slighted or wronged, when we are tempted to respond in kind. Embracing this standing posture, we can eventually turn our sorrows into lasting peace and joy!

Let us pray: Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!

Today’s author is Wilmar Zabala, Glenmary’s vocation counselor, who helps men discern their call to serve in the home missions.

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