Tuesday 29 December

1 John 2:3-11; Psalm 96; Luke 2:22-35

A sword will pierce your soul

Perhaps it was only on Calvary that Mary fully understood the prophetic words of Simeon that a sword would pierce her soul. Even then she probably did not understood why God had allowed this terrible suffering to happen to her beloved Jesus. Only the Resurrection gave meaning to it all. As we walk through our own dark valleys we do not always understand why God has allowed our suffering. But one day we will understand as we look back on the panorama of our lives and realise that God has used it all, even our sins, to bring us to himself and to know his unconditional love.