Simon of Cyrene
The Crucifixion of Jesus
21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews. 27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [28] 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Reflection
Today's story, along with the other synoptic gospels (Matthew and Mark), tells of a man who was from Cyrene. Cyrene, Libya was home to about 100,000 Jews, and later became a center of Christianity. Simon of Cyrene's act of carrying the cross is depicted in the the fifth or seventh station of the cross. An important detail of the story is that they "forced" him to the cross. Other translations use the word "compelled". Bottom line is he is included in the Passion of our Lord. The thing that hit me is that Simon was forced to carry Jesus' cross, but we are asked to "pick up our cross and follow Jesus."
Amidst all of the people who shredded Jesus with insults and mocking, this lone character came alongside Jesus and carried the cross of Jesus until they hung Jesus on it. As they crucified Jesus they mocked again by saying, "You saved others but why can't you save yourself?" And, "You said you were going to destroy the temple then build it in three days!" Of course he was referring to His body, which was the temple of God which was raised three days after he died.
We know at any time Jesus could have ended this horrific episode with one word, but he endured it for one reason. In obedience to the Father and out of love for us. Simon was forced to carry Jesus' cross. What is your cross? What are you called to die for Jesus' sake and in service for others. Jesus will never call us to do anything he hasn't already done for us. And He will never ask us to do anything he won't give us the power to do. Doing so will certainly mean dying to something? But in doing that we will also experience new life. From death comes life. This is the way of Christ, and this is the way for His followers. After all we are called "Christ-Ian's", which means little Christ's.
21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews. 27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [28] 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Reflection
Today's story, along with the other synoptic gospels (Matthew and Mark), tells of a man who was from Cyrene. Cyrene, Libya was home to about 100,000 Jews, and later became a center of Christianity. Simon of Cyrene's act of carrying the cross is depicted in the the fifth or seventh station of the cross. An important detail of the story is that they "forced" him to the cross. Other translations use the word "compelled". Bottom line is he is included in the Passion of our Lord. The thing that hit me is that Simon was forced to carry Jesus' cross, but we are asked to "pick up our cross and follow Jesus."
Amidst all of the people who shredded Jesus with insults and mocking, this lone character came alongside Jesus and carried the cross of Jesus until they hung Jesus on it. As they crucified Jesus they mocked again by saying, "You saved others but why can't you save yourself?" And, "You said you were going to destroy the temple then build it in three days!" Of course he was referring to His body, which was the temple of God which was raised three days after he died.
We know at any time Jesus could have ended this horrific episode with one word, but he endured it for one reason. In obedience to the Father and out of love for us. Simon was forced to carry Jesus' cross. What is your cross? What are you called to die for Jesus' sake and in service for others. Jesus will never call us to do anything he hasn't already done for us. And He will never ask us to do anything he won't give us the power to do. Doing so will certainly mean dying to something? But in doing that we will also experience new life. From death comes life. This is the way of Christ, and this is the way for His followers. After all we are called "Christ-Ian's", which means little Christ's.
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