But we have his own assurance that those who thus share his life to the full, will share his joy also to the full.

“Blessed are you who weep now,” he said, “for you will laugh” (NRSV, Luke 6:21).

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven…” (NRSV, Matthew 5:11,12, our emphasis).

So it was for Mary.  In her great love for Jesus she shared his sufferings.  Her road through life was his road, and when at last she reached its end, he was there waiting for her, and so she attained the reward which awaits all who follow in his steps – she saw the King in his beauty and entered into the joy of her Lord where for evermore she rejoices in God her Saviour.

References

1. Cited in Frost, B. (1938) The mystery of Mary, London and Oxford: A.R. Mowbray & Co Limited.  (The quotation is from the Communion verse for the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary).

2. Shakespeare, W. (1600-1601) Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1, lines 62-63.  Available from:
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/hamlet_3_1.html (Accessed 24 August 2015) (Internet).