This one is pretty deep, and I'm a little unsure where to begin. I could talk about Jesus allowing Himself to suffer for our sake, but that's probably going to be the whole topic of the next post.
Then there's all the falls. Jesus fell and rose three times, each time giving us both proof of His human nature, an example for our own journeys, and a foreshadowing of the Resurrection. He fell (died) and rose (from the dead) after 3 days.
But what I think are really interesting are the interactions that Jesus has with the people He meets on His way to be crucified.
Because this also is an example for our own lives.
So often, we think, "I have to emulate Christ, so I have to carry my cross. That means going forward no matter what and getting back up if I fall." And yes, carrying our crosses has a lot to do with perseverance and fortitude.
But we also have to make time for the other people around us. We can't just carry our crosses and ignore everyone.
And that's tough, because that's exactly what we want to do when we've got a cross on our shoulders - ignore everyone.
"I'm in pain. I don't have to be nice right now!"
"Why do you have to bug me when I have so much bigger problems right now?"
"I don't have time to talk to you or help you. I'm going through a lot at the moment."
But the women weeping for Jesus on the side of the road weren't ignored. He spoke to them, even if the words weren't what they would have liked to hear.
And it may not seem like very much of an effort to stop and say a few words to someone on the side of the road, but I bet it's extremely difficult if you're completely bruised and bloody, sweat running down your body, heavy piece of wood across your shoulders, and being whipped by soldiers as they parade you to your death past crowds of people mocking you. In that instance, to stop and actually talk to someone is just about the greatest additional sacrifice I can imagine.
He let Veronica wipe His face, leaving her a miraculous image of Himself.
He expressed His gratitude for generous acts, no matter how small, even when He was at His lowest point.
He stopped to greet His mother.
He made time for those whom He loved, and He honored His Mother, even when it took all his strength to do so.
He let Simon help Him carry the cross.
He was not ashamed to allow someone to help Him when He lacked the physical ability to continue alone. He also showed by this that we can all participate in this mystery through living our Christian lives. We can all participate in Christ's passion, and thus, we can all be Simon.
And I like to believe that He made eye contact with people whom he walked past. He knew who was in that crowd, those of us present there through the Eucharist included, and He was loving each and every one of them as He walked past, even if He didn't talk to each one of them.
And that, to me, is utterly incredible.
Because if I was being marched to my death, if I was bloody and sweaty and tired and bruised, I doubt I would have the strength to walk at all. I know for sure that even if I did find the strength to walk the whole way, I certainly wouldn't stop to talk. I wouldn't be full of love for all the onlookers and the people jeering at me. I wouldn't want to enlighten people with the truth, or let anybody help me and thus see how weak and vulnerable I was. I would want to walk straight forward with my eyes on the ground, avoiding everyone.
But to be a Catholic means to carry our crosses together. It means that we must all trudge up to Calvary, and we must all be kind and gentle and loving to each other as we go along. We must help others and accept help when we need it. Because we can't do this alone.
Even God fell down. How can we think we won't? Even God needed help to carry His cross. How can we think we can do this alone?
I'm praying for you!
:)
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