Jesus, being weak from the beating and torture He had received was physically struggling under the weight of His cross. Simon of Cyrene was passing by and the soldiers compelled him to help Jesus carry the cross to Golgotha. Cyrene was the capital city of Cyrenaica in northern Africa on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea.
He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Isaiah 53:3
Simon of Cyrene had his own cross in the form of daily challenges of life, but he also had the opportunity to carry somebody else’s cross and this turned out to be the most important cross he ever carried.
Sometimes, we too may need a 'Simon of Cyrene' to help us bear our cross.
We pray to God that He may grant us the grace to bear other people’s burdens as we serve Him who declared that, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.”
Lord, bless every 'Simon of Cyrene' whom You place on our journey. Grant us the willingness and the zeal to carry the crosses of those whom we meet, that have no strength. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove