V. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus.
Behold the wood of the Cross…
Pause and hold your heart and the world in your hands.
Simon of Cyrene was just a bystander watching the spectacle on the streets of Jerusalem when he was—quite randomly—picked by the soldiers and forced to help Jesus carry the cross.
One moment Simon was just a tourist from modern-day Libya; the next he found himself carrying a convicted man’s cross.
We can only imagine how that must have felt like. Imagine just quietly and busily going about our private lives—and then we get dragged into something like this! The last thing we want is to be inconvenienced or have our lives disrupted.
But helping someone or loving someone does entail inconveniences and disruptions. We often have no choice but to move the furniture of our lives around in order to help or love others.
How willing are you to be a Simon of Cyrene to others, to be pulled out of your comfort zone?
The good news is: Our Lord Jesus is more than willing to be a Simon of Cyrene to us. He watches us going about our lives, He sees that we need help, and He’s just waiting for us to call out to Him and invite Him into our crowded lives.
Here are words from Harry Styles’ “Satellite.” They could very well be words our Lord wishes to speak to you:
Spinning out, waiting for you to pull me in.
I can see you’re lonely down there.
Don’t you know that I am right here?
Take a moment and listen.
Feel free to share your thoughts, questions, and prayers below.
4 replies on “The Fifth Station”
Sorry, Jesus, for the many times I am so full of myself that I forget that you are just there waiting for me to include you. I am so overwhelmed, Lord. It’s lonely and frustrating at times, especially when it feels like the world and the work are on my shoulders. Lord Jesus, remind me of you.
Thank you Jesus for helping me help someone in need, for You😇🙏❤️
This is exactly what I have been feeling when I found out about my dad’s diagnosis. Lord give me strength, the grace to help him, the wisdom to decide what is right.
Praying for the grace of the willingness to be a ‘Simon’ to others even though it us uncfortable. 🙏🙏
Thank you Fr. J