December 16

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,and Mary Magdelene. John 19:25

We looked at this verse once, but we need to see it from another perspective. Isn't one of the most difficult emotions loneliness? I love quiet and often spend days with no TV, no music, just quiet. Other times that same quiet becomes oppressive.

Oppressive loneliness is what I imagine for the Lord on that awful cross. Did he wonder where the others were, his best friends for the past three years? Did he long for them, to see their faces, to be touched or spoken to? I know that God was with him, but he was not just God. Jesus was a flesh and blood human, hurting terribly, alone except for four faithful women and John .

Shepherds and wise men came to see him when he was born. Crowds gathered round him when he healed. Multitudes followed him as he taught, or as he fed them on the hillside. They needed and wanted what he had to give, so they got as close as they could.

Now he hangs on a cross, lonely, with only five to comfort him. He knew loneliness. Does he still long for us to come and share his solitude?

Lord Jesus, we cry out to you in our loneliness. We seek you in our need and our desires. Remind us that even now you wait for us to come near, to talk and to listen to you. Amen.