Jesus’ cross was laid upon Simon of Cyrene. He did not volunteer to carry this cross, maybe none of us would have, but we are glad he did.
“Jesus asks us to help others and encourages us to let others help us. Origin, religious belief, or nationality should not play a role. We should not make our aid conditional. We must learn to help others seeking nothing in return.”
Have you ever felt helpless to assist someone in need, especially strangers, or chose not to help because it was convenient?
“In difficult situations where we have abandoned people close to us as well as strangers, out of helplessness or convenience, we ask you to help us, Lord, to change and forgive us.”
“Can there be any more agonizing pain than seeing the humiliation and indescribable suffering of the one you love most deeply while being powerless to help?” Selah!
“We learn how difficult it can be to encounter suffering people within our families and friends whom we are unable to help. Imagine how Mary felt. As the mother of Jesus, Mary felt helpless when she encountered her son carrying the cross, yet she still remained true to him.”
“As we repeatedly stumble and fall, we learn that God will never abandon us. We have come to recognize, that in our daily struggles, the Lord is with us, even when we choose not to acknowledge His presence.” Forgive us, Lord.
“Lord, when you fell under the weight of your cross which bore our sins, you got up again and carried on, unswerving in your obedience to our Father. Teach us to fix our sights on you, to preserve us when we fall away from your grace, again and again.”
I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven, over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need repentance. Luke 15:7
Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Luke 5:31-32
“No matter how blessed we are in life, we all have our own crosses to bear. No one lives a life free from pain, tribulation, sorrow, or hardship, in mind or body.” Help us, Lord, to bear our crosses.
“There is no escape from the cross; and Christ fully human, bore the burden of his cross physically for all to see, to show that there is nothing He asks us to endure that He has not endured before us. Lord, give us the strength to carry the cross we have been given, show us how to lighten the load by trusting in Your love.”
“Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
“To deny ourselves is to disown ourselves as the center of our existence.” Are you willing to do this? To deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Christ?
“Lord, grant us the strength to replace our shortcomings with humility and generosity of spirit.”
“Lord, where we have wrongly judged others unfairly, or held prejudice against people, we ask you to help us change and to send us forgiveness.”
“Crucify Him! Crucify him! Why? What harm has this man done? I have found no case against him that deserves death. But they kept on shouting, demanding that Jesus be crucified. Pilate handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they pleased.”
“Lord, teach us not to judge or harbor any unkind thoughts towards others. We can understand so little, and our judgment will always be biased by motives of jealousy, greed, or pride. Help us to instead recognize our own faults, but allow us to see ourselves as others see us, and especially as you see us.”
“May we never forget the depth of Jesus’ love for us, as he repeatedly forgives our sins which brought about his death.”
“Lord, if it is your will, please lay my cross on me gently, and grant me the strength to carry it bravely, with you, and for your love.”