Called to be a Simon of Cyrene to others

We don't know precisely why Simon of Cyrene was walking where he was on that day when he met Jesus.

He may have been walking beside Jesus devoutly;
He may have been walking beside Jesus accidentally;
He may have been walking beside Jesus out of curiosity;
He may have been walking beside Jesus confrontationally.

The reality is he didn’t sign up to bear the heavy cross, to enter into the horror of the Passion, to walk alongside a stranger experiencing the worst day of His life. He just happened to be standing there, minding his own business. But when the duty was pressed upon him, Simon responded. He put aside his own reservations to serve Jesus in His moment of need, and in doing so, he fulfilled a most sacred ministry, an apostolate.

As far as we can tell there is no prior relationship between Simon and Christ, this unlikely pair belong to one another at Christ’s most vulnerable moment. Christ’s life is in Simon’s hands, and Simon, by the design of the soldiers, finds himself responsible for a man he barely knows. Similarly, our actions depend on others,

Each day we walk alongside each other. We are not walking accidentally-God’s providence brings us together, as the saying goes: “You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family.” We are not walking out of curiosity, we committed to journey with each other as pilgrims in being disciples of Jesus Master within the Pauline Family. We are not walking confrontationally- because we are called to be ambassadors of peace, communication, dialogue, compassion and so much more. We are however walking devoutly- because with bowed heads we recognise Christ present in the other, the same Christ we receive in his Body and Blood, as Word made Flesh, and who stays with us throughout the day as we walk in the sacred lives of each other. It is not easy to be a Simon of Cyrene to carry the burdens of another but it is possible when we are aware that we journey with Jesus every step of the way. In African culture, what Simon did was: 'hunhu (Shona) /ubuntu (Zulu), that is, the capacity to express compassion, reciprocity, dignity, harmony and humanity in the interests of endowing, building and maintaining communities with justice and mutual caring.' (Dr. Tony Monda)

We may, as we pray the Stations of the Cross, feel more drawn more toward Veronica. Veronica also had no such compulsion to step out into the brutality and chaos of Jerusalem’s streets that fateful day; she could very well have stayed in her home and closed the curtains, turning away from this scene of unimaginable suffering and sorrow. After all, it was not as though she could really do anything about this situation anyway, right? She looked out and saw the innocent Jesus in deep agony, bound for His death. How could she change the situation? Approaching the suffering Jesus would only cause her pain, would it not? It certainly wouldn’t change the fact that Jesus was going to die; it would only increase her sorrows to stand witness to it.

And yet, Veronica stepped out toward Jesus. She volunteered to place herself in all the agony of that hour just to give Jesus what little she could: a small moment of comfort, a gesture of kindness, an affirmation of His dignity. She took her own veil and used it to wipe away the blood and sweat on His Holy Face. She looked into His eyes and offered a brief moment of companionship during His suffering. “I see You,” she might have said, “and I am not looking away.” After this interaction, the image of Jesus’s Holy Face was miraculously imprinted on Veronica’s veil: she went forth carrying the image of Christ to the world.

The name Veronica is derived from the Latin 'vera icona', meaning “true image.” She is called Veronica because of the role that she played during the Passion. We don’t know what Veronica’s “real” name was, but it doesn’t actually matter. Her truest identity is Veronica, true icon of Christ. In that moment on the road to Calvary, she didn’t just receive the image of Christ; she became the image of Christ. Her very person was forever changed by meeting Jesus and offering Him the simple gift of her presence.

Often we can find ourselves reluctant to get involved in the life we share with each other. If we are consumed by our own individual fears and anxieties we may miss the opportunity to reach out to another who would be comforted by our presence. Like in the case of Veronica, we might be tempted to discouragement because we can’t fix whatever situation,  however we can try. Any gesture done in love and with compassion and selflessness, no matter how small, but like the Face of Jesus on Veronica’s veil, they can leave a deep impression.

Most of us will receive no compulsory demand to walk alongside someone in a time of crisis and help them carry their cross. We chose at the time of our religious Profession to live our vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in a life of community. Like in a marriage, we walk alongside each other, for better or for worse. As we continue on our Lenten journey, may we continue to invoke the intercession of these Lenten saints who can teach so much on their journey of holiness and may each one of us be open to help carry the Cross and also allow ourselves to be helped in carrying whatever burden weighs us down as we move towards the fullness of life which Jesus offers us each day.

AMEN.