With this example of Jesus and Mary in front of us, it is strange that we expect that life, however difficult it may be for other people, should be easy for ourselves; stranger still when we have been repeatedly warned that the opposite is virtually automatic in this world.

“…human beings are born to trouble just as sparks fly upward” (NRSV, Job 5:7).

“In the world you will have trouble…”, says Our Lord (Jerusalem Bible, John 16:33).

“We all have to experience many hardships…before we enter the kingdom of God”, echo Paul and Barnabas (Jerusalem Bible, Acts 14:22).

It was so for Our Lord.  It was so for Mary who trod that same road from Nazareth to Calvary which her Son also had trodden.  Furthermore, their sufferings were entirely innocent.  From the world’s point of view they had every excuse, every reason, for rebelling against life and for rebelling against God.