In the company of true friends

Yesterday's Gospel was about the anointing of Jesus in Bethany. There, in the company of His true friends Lazarus, Martha and Mary, Jesus had a little respite at the time in His life when He most felt the reality of His impending suffering and death.
Each person has to carry his own cross. Suffering is an inevitable part of life. Even those who love us most or who are willing to give their own lives for us cannot take suffering away from us, no matter how they try.
But true friends are like shafts of light in the darkest night. They don't take away the darkness, but they assure us that it is not all dark. There is light.
They give us the courage to take that difficult leap because it is important if we want to find the meaning of our lives.