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| Susan Swanke |
This Lent, my parish has been focusing on the character of Simon of Cyrene along Jesus’ walk to Calvary.
The Fifth Station of the Cross is dedicated to this man who was pressed into service for the Lord in his hour of need, and Simon is an example of Christian service and compassion.
As Christians, we seek to be “Simons” in this world of need, and rightly so.
Yet, as I’ve been thinking about Simon helping Jesus, my mind also wonders about Jesus’ perspective.
Jesus accepts help
He allows Simon to help him. His is a position of vulnerability and weakness, and he allows Simon to enter that place with him. He does not hide his need out of shame.
I think this situation of need is one we will all experience at different times in our lives. If given the option, most of us would rather be in Simon’s position of giving help rather than Jesus’ position of receiving help. Why is that?
Many of us spend our lives trying to get rid of our weak places. Our heart remembers times when we have felt rejected, abandoned, alone, and without help when these weak places have been hurt.
In reality, these places are our most vulnerable parts.
They carry many beautiful gifts that can bring us joy and communion, but they are also the ones that are most easily and deeply hurt.
Sometimes our inner critic becomes like a radar, looking for danger and weakness on the horizon. We seek ways to avoid the weaker parts and the stories of hurt that they carry.
Entering into the place of need
In becoming man, Jesus also enters into this place of need. He takes on all the reality of being human with vulnerable parts, parts that need help.
What can we learn from Jesus in his hour of need? He continues on the journey. He doesn’t give up. Yet, he falls and accepts the help of a stranger.
In the season of Lent, Jesus is slowly teaching us that he is actually inviting us to enter into the parts of us that are wounded and in need of help.
He goes there in order to draw us there. He goes there in order to make us know that we are not alone there. He goes there to show us how to be compassionate toward the parts of us that need help.
This brings relief to the hurt places as well as space for the inner critic to relax and take on a different role.
What are the places in your life where you need help? This Lent, can we learn to be compassionate with those parts like Jesus was?
When we do, we open ourselves to experience the beauty of connectedness and communion.
Can we let Jesus help us? Can we let others in the Body of Christ help us?
Susan Swanke is a member of St. Christopher Parish, Verona.