Station 5

Station 5: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross

Scripture Passage

And when they had mocked Jesus, they took the purple cloak off and put his own clothes on him, and they led him out to be crucified. Then they forced a certain passer-by, Simon of Cyrene coming from the country, to take up his cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha a name meaning ‘the place of the skull.’ (Mk 15: 20-22)

Meditation from Fr. Jason Smith, LC

We adore you, O Christ, and praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

As Simon was passing by, the soldiers forced him to help carry the cross of Jesus. This Station reminds us how often we pass by Jesus daily, consumed by distractions and worries. The grace of this Station lies in recognizing that when we are inconvenienced by life’s circumstances and forced to slow down or stop, it is the Holy Spirit nudging us to recognize the Kingdom of God present in our midst. By being more mindful of the moment, we begin to see Jesus’ face everywhere.