REFLECTION ON THE FIFTH STATION

THE FIFTH STATION: SIMON OF CYRENE HELPS JESUS TO CARRY HIS CROSS

L.   We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you
A.   Because by your cross you have redeemed the world

REFLECTION

Have you helped anybody in your life before or  you been on the received end before? Help is an action given to provide assistance or aid. Help makes us know our human limitedness or where we get to give room for another to assist or continue with what we are doing to arrive at a perfect end.

Man is not an island, the adage states, thus, in one way or the other, no matter who you are or what you have, you will indeed surely need someone either below you or above you or your equal to help you to achieve your goal or aim.

In this station, Jesus is helped to carry His Cross by Simon not because He could not carry it but to teach us how to humble ourselves when help is offered to us (1 Peter 2:21). 

As we reflect on the fifth station, let us draw our minds to the theme of HELP which summarizes the whole life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ here on earth. Jesus came to this world so that he could help mankind to restore his relationship with God. This act of Christ should communicate to us the need to give a helping hand to those in need and the need to also open our doors for help when we are in need.

One thing that we fail to do sometimes is to render the same help to someone who may also be in need of it. One of the themes of lent is CHARITY. Let us all go out there to practice our act of charity by giving a helping hand to those who need it.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, help us to understand the need to extend a helping hands to those in need. Help us to treat each one as we would treat you. 

Amen

by RAPHAEL ANDOH
(Theology 1 Seminarian)