Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the
least of these my brethren, you did it to me.
— Matthew 25:40
In Christianity, we refer to our sufferings as “crosses.”
We all have crosses to bear, some heavier than others.
But how often do we consider the need to help others carry their crosses? There was Simon of Cyrene, who physically carried the Cross for Jesus during His journey to Calvary.
And there was Veronica, who emerged from the crowd to offer a simple gesture of kindness toward Jesus, Whose face was dripping with sweat and blood. Unfazed by the soldiers and the screaming and chaos around her, she reached out to wipe Jesus’ face with her veil. The gesture
seemed insignificant to the rest of the world, but Jesus rewarded her greatly, imprinting His Holy Face on her veil.
Do we attempt to assist others with their crosses?
Like Veronica, we can’t take away the crosses. We might not even be able to help carry them, as did Simon of Cyrene. But we can show love and mercy. We can be a listening ear. We can pray and make sacrifices for those who are suffering. And in a world that is suffering so much, none of us has an excuse to slip back into the crowd unnoticed. We all should be like Veronica, ready and willing to offer comfort and relief.
Let us pray:
Jesus, You know well the pain of human suffering, because
You experienced it in Your bitter Passion. Veronica, doing
all she could, offered her veil to bring You comfort. Grant
me the grace and the fortitude to extend that same selflessness
to my neighbors as they carry their crosses. I offer my
small acts of charity for love of You. Imprint your Face on
my heart as I strive to ease the burdens of my neighbors.
Amen.
And a shorter prayer you can memorize and pray often:
Jesus, I offer my small acts of charity for love of You. Amen.
This article is excerpted from “The Prayer Book for Tired Parents: Practical Ways to Grow in Love of God and Get Your Family to Heaven” (c) 2022 David and Debbie Cowden. Please only reproduce with permission.
