"Am I Ready to Accept the Cross as a Tool to Life?": Bishop Paul on Palm Sunday 2022

Abu Dhabi.

The celebrations for the Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord was presided over by Bishop Paul Hinder OFM Cap. at St. Joseph's Cathedral Abu Dhabi at 6:30 pm.

Below is the full text of the homily delivered by Bishop Paul during the celebration.

Readings of the Day:
Is 50:47; Phil 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-233:56

We just heard in the passion reading the verse that has become the 5th Station in the Way of the Cross: “As they were leading (Jesus) away they seized on a man, Simon from Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and made him shoulder the cross and carry it behind Jesus” (Lk 23:26).

Let us reflect a moment on this verse. It helps us to look at our own life in a new way. Simon of Cyrene came from the country to the city of Jerusalem. Maybe he came back from some work and was now on the way to the temple or he wanted to join his family for the Passover. Unexpectedly he crosses the execution squad leading Jesus to Calvary. On the spot, he was picked up by the soldiers and forced “to shoulder the cross and carry it behind Jesus” to the place of execution. In the space of a minute, he lost his freedom and became a slave. There was no choice. He was simply forced by the soldiers to do what he certainly did not like to do.

Brothers and sisters, does it not happen in our own lives? Suddenly we too are burdened with a cross that we were not asked for. It was simply imposed. Maybe, the unexpected diagnosis of a serious disease; the sudden death of close relative or a good friend; the loss of all the earnings caused by an economic crisis, by a natural calamity or by war. And so on! We do not know what happened in the heart of Simon of Cyrene while he was unwillingly carrying the cross of Jesus. His first reaction may well have been rebellion: “Why me? If only I had chosen another route to cross the city! What, if at the end they crucify me instead of the man with the crown of thorns.” In the gospel of Mark, there are mentions by name the sons of Simon, Alexander and Rufus. It indicates that Simon after Easter became Christian with his family and professed Jesus as the risen Lord. Only then he realized that the cross he was forced to carry for Jesus on the last stretch to Calvary, was in fact the tool of redemption. The horrible instrument of torture on his shoulder had become the key that opened the door to life.
 

Dear friends in Christ,

Let us undergo the days of the Holy Week as companions of Simon of Cyrene, who against his will was obliged to take over the cross, but finally accepted it. These days are an excellent time to look into our own life with the mirror of Simon of Cyrene. There might well be a heavy cross I am forced to carry by the circumstances of the life. It might trouble and change my plans and projects. Am I able to accept it as a tool that leads me to life because I carry it behind Jesus, the redeemer? Since Simon of Cyrene took over the cross of Jesus, millions of faithful got strength from this verse in the Bible. It is kept for you and for me.