Jesus Carrying the Cross

Sometimes I watch little videos of the Rosary on "youtube.com".  It helps me pray when I am not feeling so well, or when my mind is unsettled and meditation becomes difficult.

Sometimes these videos include a picture of each mystery.  In one particular presentation they show a scene of Jesus Carrying the Cross -- for the 4th Sorrowful Mystery.

The artist has depicted Christ with a rope around his neck, being dragged along like an animal.  It's horrifying, but likely accurate.  A sign of the incredible suffering the Son endured on our behalf...

St. Simon of Cyrene

Many of us know the story of St. Simon of Cyrene (Matthew. 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26). 

Already exhausted and on his way home from a hard day's work in the fields, he happens upon an unexpected scene. It was a Roman crucifixion in-progress. Soldiers single him out, demanding he assist a political prisoner. It must have been extremely annoying! 

 A number of questions must have come to mind -- What is this?  Who is this?  Why am I being asked to help carry this cross? The whole affair was likely a source of frustration, perhaps even anger for Simon. But after picking up the cross and walking with this stranger a while, things gradually began to become clearer. Some of the answers began coming into focus.

What is this? -- This is an unpleasant experience -- but something God has picked out for me.
Who is this? -- This is Jesus, the savior.
Why am I being asked to help carry this cross? -- It doesn't really matter; I'm so glad to be able to help Jesus with his cross.

In the same way, we may encounter difficult, unexpected challenges in our life. In the beginning these things will seem a source of frustration, perhaps even anger. We may ask the same kind of questions St. Simon of Cyrene did. But let us try to answer those questions as Simon did:

What is this? -- This is an unpleasant experience -- but something God has picked out for me.
Who is this? -- This is Jesus, the savior.
Why am I being asked to help carry this cross? -- It doesn't really matter; I'm so glad to be able to help Jesus with his cross...

Welcome to Our Celebration!

We're glad you made it...

There's some good food over there,

Please feel free to partake.

Thank you for coming, and hope you enjoy yourself!

Divine Mercy Theme -- Revised!

I love the Divine Mercy theme: “Jesus, I trust in you.”

But there’s a little problem.
Sometimes I doubt.
Sometimes I try to manage things by myself,
and don’t think of Jesus as I should.
Maybe it’s sinful behavior on my part.
Or maybe it’s just human weakness.
But I feel guilty claiming I trust in the Lord fully,
when in fact sometimes I don’t. . .

Now it’s important to be honest with God.
So I’ve tweaked the wording of this prayer just a bit.
I hope St. Faustina won’t mind.
When praying I like to say “Jesus, I trust in you! Help me to trust you more!”