A VISITOR WHO CARRIED HIS CROSS

(Written on Good Friday 2000. Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus’ cross is one of the characters in the Bible I admire so much and wants to emulate.)

Brother Simon,

What brought you

all the way from Cyrene

to Jerusalem

the day they crucified

the Lord?

The Bible tells us

you helped to carry His cross.

Where were all those who were

fed,

healed,

raised from the dead,

whose sight was restored,

whose sins were forgiven,

from whom demons were cast out?

Where were those who followed Him?

You were just a visitor.

It was neither your choice nor

your responsibility.

It must have slighted your Cyrenian pride,

offended you, Jerusalem’s guest.

Yet, you carried it

without a word

until they placed Him there.

We hear of you only once: a detail in the drama,

a hidden extra among the cast,

Yet you carried His cross when He could not.

Thank you, Brother Simon,

Thank you.