Graciously behold your family

You are invited to a very special family gathering this week

“And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.” (Mark 15.21). At least some of the original readers of Mark’s gospel must have known Alexander and Rufus. I imagine Simon of Cyrene must have been naturally resistant to be implicated in all this drama. It does say they “compelled” him. Put aside the potential shame of being somehow connected to this bloody man already arrested, tried, and on-his-way-to-punishment: the death penalty. Put aside the inconvenience of changing his own passover plans. Nobody volunteers to carry a heavy cross, caked with fresh blood, torn flesh, and dust picked up from dragging it from the place of scourging to the place of execution. So, they compelled Simon.

Probably before he even knew what was happening, he had a heavy beam on his back, and blood-not-his-own on his head. What happened in Simon as he walked up to the place of the skull? Were Alexander and Rufus there walking by their dad–walking near Jesus? Did they see the unbearable load Jesus still had even after their dad took the cross? Did they stick around and watch the execution? Did they hear Jesus speak from the cross? Did they see him as he breathed his last?

There are many questions, but I am quite sure we will be able to ask Simon and Alexander and Rufus someday. I think they became friends of the cross–the family of Jesus. Our family. Our brothers. Church. I imagine Simon being the first to sing, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” 

The family of Jesus gathers with his disciples around the altar tonight and with the women and John around the cross tomorrow and with Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb on Easter Sunday morning. This is your family. These are your brothers and sisters. My favorite collect (liturgical prayer before the scripture reading) is the one for Good Friday:

Let us pray.

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your

family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be

betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer

death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and

the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Worship at Trinity

Maundy Thursday — 7 PM

Good Friday — 7 PM

Easter Sunday — 9:30 AM