Eighth Station: Jesus is helped by Simon of Cyrene to carry his cross

… and they led him out to crucify him. And they forced one Simon a Cyrenian who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and of Rufus, to take up his cross.
(Mk 15:20b-21, Douay-Rheims Version)

Many texts of the traditional stations speak of how privileged Simon of Cyrene was to have helped Jesus carry the cross. I do wonder if Simon really felt privileged when the cross was thrust upon him by the Roman soldiers. He probably resented the Roman soldiers for ordering him to do so. He might even have resented Jesus as well but it is more likely that he resented his own misfortune to be walking at the wrong place at the wrong time. Was he aware of the drama that had unfolded at the praetorium that morning? Who was Simon anyway?

The name Simon is used by both Greeks and Jews. From history, we know that Cyrene was a North African city in the Roman Empire. There was a large Jewish community there at the time of Jesus. The Roman Catholic tradition considers Simon a Jew although there is real historical proof. What we do know is that St. Mark names his sons in his Gospel, indicating that they were known to the Christian community. With respect to Simon’s role, St. Matthew’s account is similar to St. Mark. St. Luke mentions that Simon walks behind Jesus while St. John does not mention Simon at all. Using the Jerusalem Bible translation, we get a kind of harmony:

So in the end Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. Then they took charge of Jesus, and carrying his own cross he went out of the city (Jn 19:16-17) …On their way out, they came across a man from Cyrene, Simon by name (Mt 27:32) … father of of Alexander and Rufus (Mk 15:21) … who was coming in from the country, and made him shoulder the cross and carry it behind Jesus. (Lk 23;26)

As we can read, Jesus carried his cross part of the way out of the city and Simon was made to carry the cross behind Jesus. Simon had to bear Jesus’ burden because the Romans were afraid that Jesus might not survive the walk to the execution site. The soldiers would have to explain themselves if Jesus died from exhaustion rather than from being nailed to the cross. Thus, Simon was forced to carry the cross so that Jesus might be crucified properly. I do not think that the soldiers would be grateful to Simon. He probably got the same treatment as anyone carrying a cross to be executed. He would be shouted at, pushed and shoved to get going when he slowed down. He could not argue lest he suffered punishment for resisting the soldiers. Simon was probably very vexed. He was minding his own business and did not do anything wrong to anyone. Why would the soldiers force him to carry the cross? He must have been very frustrated.

Simon of Cyrene did not know at that time that he was involved in Jesus’ fulfilment of His Father’s will. Simon was probably not a necessary part of Jesus’ redemptive mission but God had planned that he became part of it nevertheless. It does not really matter whether he was initially resentful or upset on being chosen by the soldiers to carry Jesus’ cross. What is significant was that Simon was chosen to be part of the event that is central to the saving plan of God.

There are times when we cannot understand why something happens. This COVID-19 pandemic is just one of those times. We cannot understand why God would allow it to be so serious that Catholics are not able to worship like they normally did. The advisory from the government was that all places of worship were to be closed to the public. That would mean that Catholics would not be able to come into the Church grounds to pray. I can empathise with those who feel so cut off and do not understand why God could allow this thing to happen. Yet I hope that like Simon of Cyrene, I might nevertheless comply with the advisory and come to see the greater significance which God has for allowing this situation. As St. Paul would write, Now we are seeing a dim reflection in a mirror; but then we shall be seeing face to face. The knowledge that I have now is imperfect; but then I shall know as fully as I am known. (1 Cor 13:12, Jerusalem Bible)