5th Station of the Cross

5th Station of the Cross

Simon of Cyrene is forced to help Jesus to carry His cross to Calvary. Simon was just a bystander watching what was going on with Jesus. Simon did not plan on helping Jesus and becoming part of His journey. Jesus was not moving as fast as the soldiers wanted and was becoming weaker and weaker with each step. They knew He would not be able to do this Himself and longer so they pulled Simon from the crowd and forced him to help. 

    This station like the first can be seen from both persons. First being Jesus. Jesus is beaten down and tired, both physically, emotional and I wonder if spiritually as well. We know Jesus could have called on Heaven to give Him strength but He allowed another to help Him with His struggle. How good are you at asking for help when going through something? Are you able to ask someone to help with a task that you will need help with? I must admit that this I am not good at. I do not ask for help and if I am asked if I need help I will say no but Thank You for asking and continue on. I know this is not something that is a good trait in myself. If Jesus was able to accept help I also need to learn to do that as well. I must be able to humble myself as Jesus shows us all to do and ask and accept that help from others. People feel needed and wanted when we allow them to help. It shows that we trust and need them in our lives. It is not showing a weakness but a strength. 

     The second perspective is that of Simon. Simon had no intention of helping Jesus but is forced to by the soldiers. Have you watched someone who needed help and did nothing to help them? Have you given excuses so you would not have to help someone? We are all called to help others. Jesus helped those He knew and also those who He did not know. There are plenty of ways we can help others. We are able to help other by bring food and drink to those in need and bring clothes to them as well. There are many organizations that ask for our help both monetarily and physically. It is up to us to be the hands and feet of Jesus today on earth by helping others. No one will force us like they did Simon. Look around you and see what you can do to help others in need. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and may you find ways to help and be helped by others. 

Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
Lectionary: 233

Reading 1

JER 17:5-10

Thus says the LORD:

Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings,

who seeks his strength in flesh,

whose heart turns away from the LORD.

He is like a barren bush in the desert

that enjoys no change of season,

But stands in a lava waste,

a salt and empty earth.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

whose hope is the LORD.

He is like a tree planted beside the waters

that stretches out its roots to the stream:

It fears not the heat when it comes,

its leaves stay green;

In the year of drought it shows no distress,

but still bears fruit.

More tortuous than all else is the human heart,

beyond remedy; who can understand it?

I, the LORD, alone probe the mind

and test the heart,

To reward everyone according to his ways,

according to the merit of his deeds.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6

R. (40:5a) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Blessed the man who follows not

the counsel of the wicked

Nor walks in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the company of the insolent,

But delights in the law of the LORD

and meditates on his law day and night.

R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

He is like a tree

planted near running water,

That yields its fruit in due season,

and whose leaves never fade.

Whatever he does, prospers.

R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Not so, the wicked, not so;

they are like chaff which the wind drives away.

For the LORD watches over the way of the just,

but the way of the wicked vanishes.

R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Gospel

LK 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees:

“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen

and dined sumptuously each day.

And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,

who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps

that fell from the rich man’s table.

Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.

When the poor man died,

he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.

The rich man also died and was buried,

and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,

he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off

and Lazarus at his side.

And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.

Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,

for I am suffering torment in these flames.’

Abraham replied, ‘My child,

remember that you received what was good during your lifetime

while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;

but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.

Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established

to prevent anyone from crossing

who might wish to go from our side to yours

or from your side to ours.’

He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him

to my father’s house,

for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them,

lest they too come to this place of torment.’

But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.

Let them listen to them.’

He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,

but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

Then Abraham said,

‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,

neither will they be persuaded

if someone should rise from the dead.’“