4. The Carrying of the Cross
Jesus, weak from being beaten, was unable to carry His cross to Golgotha alone. Simon, a Cyrenian, helped him.
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As they were leading him away they seized on a man, Simon from Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and made him shoulder the cross and carry it behind Jesus. Large numbers of people followed him, and women too, who mourned and lamented for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep rather for yourselves and for your children. For look, the days are surely coming when people will say, "Blessed are those who are barren, the wombs that have never borne children, the breasts that have never suckled!" Then they will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!"; to the hills, "Cover us!" For if this is what is done to green wood, what will be done when the wood is dry?' Now they were also leading out two others, criminals, to be executed with him. (Luke 23,26-)
Even if He had suffered just for you, Jesus would have accepted such pains, great is His love for you. Along the road to Calvary Jesus sees Mary, His Mother. Can we imagine the moment when Their eyes met? Oh how Her Heart must have ached. Let us pray to Mary for the grace to always accept our cross.