Mary

His mother stood in the crowd, watching as her son was placed on a cross. This is the way the government deals with criminals. She thought as they raised the cross and dropped it in the ground. THUD.

Mary recalled the visitors coming to the stable behind the inn so long ago in Bethlehem when Jesus was born. They all had stories of signs and the shepherds told of the visit by all those angels.

Next, she remembered when she and Joseph took their son to the Temple in Jerusalem eight days later for his purification. Simeon, a holy man they met in the Temple, had told her Jesus “was destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign to be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many would be revealed.” Then, he told her a sword would pierce her heart. She wondered if this was what he meant.