Lent reminds us of the perfect love that Jesus has for his children. It also reminds us of His mother’s love for Him. During Lent, Jesus’ pain is before us in many ways, and so is Mary’s. She was Jesus’ mother, and when he finally left her to step out and fulfill the mission He was born for, she knew her pain and grief would be forthcoming.

She heard about all the wonderful things he did as he journeyed through the countryside, and when his time was fulfilled, she followed Jesus on the road to Calvary. She cringed at every painful step he took. She stood at the foot of the cross, watched her Son die, and finally held His lifeless body in her arms when He was taken down from the cross. Such grief is beyond comprehension.

As a mother of adult children, I often think of Mary’s grief. She was told at the beginning that “a sword would pierce her own soul,” but she surely had no idea what she would experience. She watched her Son reach out in love to everyone He encountered, yet she saw precious few who really understood. She marveled at His miraculous works, yet she saw so many who doubted and even hated Him.

Love and grief go hand in hand because grief is the price of love. So, in this season of Lent, offer your times of grief to Jesus and remember that grief is a passage to another place in life. And grief is truly the price of love.

About the author: Previously the priest at St. Francis of Assisi in Lake Placid for 21 years, Rev. Elizabeth L. Nelson is now the Priest at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in LaBelle.