Mother Mary and Suffering Alone

Take Mary's lesson: Be there, be present, for the lonely.

When Jesus, anguished at his incoming ordeal, walked up the mountain to pray, he wanted one thing: for his friends to sit with him. He wanted them to be with him. No one, save God Himself, could take Jesus' suffering away but someone could have removed the isolation of his suffering. For those who don't know the story, Jesus' friends couldn't do that. They were exhausted and fell asleep. Jesus, in addition to being distraught, was alone.
In this individualized, mobile, and digitized society, too little attention is paid to social bonds and the need for them.
In contrast, when Jesus was dying on the cross, he wasn't alone. His mother Mary, his friend John, and his friend Mary Magdalene stood by him and stayed with him, at great risk to their own lives and at great personal emotional cost. Mary, especially, knew that her son was born for adversity and knew what was coming and she did not leave her son's side. She stayed with him. (LISTEN to Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay: The Spectacle Ep. 86: Pearl Davis Is Wrong About Mary)
It is Easter season and Christians around the world are focusing on their own sin and the grace of Jesus Christ who died for them. Christians contemplate the suffering inherent in this earthly life and consider bearing their burdens and offering up their own pain in service and with Jesus Christ. Their faith imbues their grief and loss and hurt with meaning.
Mary and John and Mary Magdalene's choice to be with their son and friend during his suffering and death is also worth paying attention to. Humans are social mammals and need a pack, a team. They need family. Humans need support and care and community. Human suffering is lessoned by social bonds. Jesus was comforted by the presence of his mother and two best friends. Jesus did not die alone. His last words were to his friend John asking that he take care of his mother. Jesus needed the comfort that his mom would be okay after he died. John gave this to him.
When someone is enduring pain an...