V/. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
R/. Because by your holy Cross you have
redeemed the world.
They
compelled Simon (cf. Mk 15:21).
The Roman
soldiers did this because they feared that in his exhaustion the Condemned Man
would not be able to carry the Cross as far as Golgotha. Then they would not be
able to carry out the sentence of crucifixion.
They were
looking for someone to help carry the Cross.
Their eyes
fell on Simon. They compelled him to take the weight upon his shoulders. We can
imagine that Simon did not want to do this and objected. Carrying the cross
together with a convict could be considered an act offensive to the dignity of
a free man.
Although
unwilling, Simon took up the Cross to help Jesus.
In a Lenten
hymn we hear the words: “Under the weight of the Cross Jesus welcomes the
Cyrenean.” These words allow us to discern a total change of perspective: the
divine Condemned One is someone who, in a certain sense, “makes a gift” of his
Cross.
Was it not
he who said: “He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of
me” (Mt 10:38)?
Simon
receives a gift.
He has
become “worthy” of it.
