DIOCESE OF ROCKVILLE CENTER – OFFICE OF THE BISHOP

BISHOP BARNES’ MEDITATION ON THE SPIRITUALTIY OF THE CROSS
Dear Friends:

Consider the figure of Simon of Cyrene. We know him from the Fifth Station of the Cross and from the Synoptic Gospels. He was compelled to carry the Cross of Christ (cf. Mt 27: 32; Mk 15 :21; Lk 23 :26). We recognize his initial fear; it is the same as our own. We do not fault Simon for his resistance. Helping Jesus could not have been easy. And yet with God’s grace what began as servitude was transformed into a gesture of compassion, even a sublime privilege.

To be sure, we may have cause to be fearful of accompanying Christ under the Cross. Social stigmas associated with some sufferings may cause us to stay away. We might fear our own inadequacies; weaknesses and wounds can cause self-doubt. We may even feel some degree of responsibility for the person’s suffering: “I could have done more”. Simon would have experienced these fears as Christ was passing by. Indeed, he needed to be driven by the Roman soldiers to accompany Jesus (cf. Mk 15:21). But the gaze of Christ prevailed on Simon and moved him beyond his fear.

For Bishop Barres’ full letter, visit www.drvc.org

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