“..standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.” John 19:25-27
“When Jesus had received the wine, He said, “It is finished.” Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” John 19:30
Desolation can be a very difficult time for any soul to go through. It can leave the soul feeling nothing but sorrow, pain and emptiness.
But, think of our Blessed Mother and her experience. She walked along side her Son, our Lord, as He went through His passion and carried His cross to Calvary and His death. She stood on the crest of that hill watching as the centurions drove the nails through His wrists and feet. She remembered times that she washed her Son’s feet as a boy and told Him to wash His hands before dinner. She knelt at the foot of the cross as her Son hung upon it in His last moments. She gazed in sorrow, remember how three years earlier at Cana, Jesus warmed her of the process she was asking Him to start. Then, she heard His final words. His last thoughts were of her as He gave His beloved mother into John’s care. She watch her Son breath His last. Then, as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimanthe took Jesus’s body from the cross, our Mother held her Son for the last time before laying Him in the tomb.
The Blessed Mother had plenty of reasons to feel the total desolation. On top of watching her Son die, she felt His pain and knew the people were killing the Son of God. Plenty of reasons to feel desolate in spirit.
How did the Blessed Mother bear all these swords to her Immaculate Heart? Faith and trust. She knew Who her Son is and knows the promises of God regarding Him. She had faith that God’s Words were truth and trusted that He would never fail.
We can have this same attitude when we face challenges and suffering. When we have struggles beyond our ability to handle, we need to follow her lead and have faith. Believe that what God had said will be true. Hold strong to this faith. Soon, this desolation and darkness will subside and pass. The joy of Easter morning will come to your soul as it did to the Mother of God when she saw her risen Son.
When journeying down the Road of Faith in times of desolation, hold fast and stay the course. No changes in the things you’ve been doing all along. Hold close to the Sacraments, the Word of God and prayer. As they say, “this too shall pass.” Look to the example of Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta. Do as Jesus orders and press through no matter how long. Victory will come with the dawn, even if that dawn is a lifetime away. And, one day, you will hear those marvelous words, “well do, my good and faithful servant.”