I have chosen to do my reflection tonight on the 5th station - Simon Helps Jesus to Carry the Cross. Tonight I would like to visit with St. Simon of Cyrene and talk about how he can help us to follow the Way of the Cross this Lent.
One thing I discovered about Simon was just how far he had come to be in Jerusalem that day. Until I looked it up, I wasn’t aware just where Cyrene was. A quick Google Search shows that the city of Cyrene was located in Northern Africa in what is now Libya - nearly 1000 miles from Jerusalem. What a long journey Simon made in order to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Can you imagine what Simon might have felt as the Roman soldier grabbed him from the midst of the crowd and placed the cross on his shoulders? Maybe fear, reluctance, disbelief, revulsion . . . . perhaps self-pity - “Why me?” “What did I do to deserve this?” I wonder at what point it dawned on him that this was a great gift and privilege he had been given -- it probably was not until a long time afterwards.
Some may question the use of the terms “Blessing” and “Privilege” in relation to Simon being forced to carry the cross of a condemned man. But looked at with the eyes of Faith, these words are actually inadequate . . . who else in history has been given the opportunity to suffer with Christ in such a literal way? Jesus said that anyone who wants to be His disciple must take up their cross and follow Him. Which of us has not struggled to do that? But Simon literally picked up the cross and followed the Lord.
In the Book of Revelation, the Saints are portrayed as having “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” We see this a figurative language describing how we are freed from sin by Christ’s sacrifice. Simon was covered in the actual blood and sweat of the Lamb the minute that cross beam was laid on his back. Jesus’ blood and sweat mingled with his own as his suffering, fear and stress was mingled with that of Jesus on this journey to Calvary.
St. Paul told the Colossians that he rejoiced in his sufferings as he filled up in his own flesh what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ. This passage can be confusing. Jesus is perfect. Wasn’t his suffering perfect - how could it lack anything? Of course, Jesus does not need our suffering to make his sacrifice complete. But he loves us and wants us with him even in his suffering, even as he accompanies us through ours. And, in a way, Simon represents each of us when we walk with others through hard times.
As far as I’ve been able to discover, St. Simon of Cyrene has not been officially named as Patron Saint of anything in particular, so I would like to suggest some people who might find him a good heavenly advocate. For those who feel that they have come a long way just to find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time; for those who feel they have been forced into a situation with little or no choice in which direction to take; for those who find it difficult to pick up their cross and follow Jesus; for those who are carrying a burden on behalf of someone else or are accompanying someone through a difficult situation -- Simon may just be the Saint to intercede for you. If you see yourself in one of these descriptions - or know someone else who is, I invite you to pray with me . . . . St. Simon of Cyrene, pray for us.
