The Cross is Heavy for Us, Too

Last week we reflected on the passion of Jesus Christ. Each day of Holy Week we, in the Christian tradition, reflected on and commemorated that gruesome experience that ended in Jesus’ death and later resurrection. His journey is robust and contains multidimensional interpretation. Although we are a week past this communal reflection, I am compelled by a quick interjection in the story of Jesus’ passion. What has recently struck me as significant in his journey is a possible interpretation gleaned from Simon from Cyrene.

As the story tells it in Luke 23:26, “As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.” This small interjection strikes me as I think about the task of ministry that church leaders are undertaking. It is our call to, in a sense, carry the crosses of others in times of trial and suffering.

We carry the cross of others when we take up the task of study for Sunday morning sermons and Wednesday evening Bible Study — a weekly practice that ministers continue, now digitally, in this time of Coronavirus. We carry the cross of others when we take and make phone calls to others to check on their wellbeing — not merely looking to hear that things are well but knowing that things are not well and being prepared to listen to them vent. We carry the cross of others when we seek to figure out how to minister during a time of a pandemic when people are looking for us to give a “word” of encouragement when we, ourselves, are drowning in the sea of the unknown.

This practice of co-carrying is not limited to a “one and done” experience. But, we avail ourselves to many people all at once. It is hard for all ministers but even more challenging for Pastors. While I am not a pastor, I am sensitive to the unique nature of the pastor who must simultaneously carry their own cross as well as the cross of their parishioners and other onlookers who look to them for encouragement.

The call of the minister includes assuming the role of Simon of Cyrene. And, while Simon co-carried the cross of Jesus one time, the minister co-carries crosses each and every day. The demands of ministry are many — especially during this time of pandemic. Indeed, it is a call that we said yes to. Yet, this does not negate the reality of the weight that we co-carry with others. We carry it with others because we understand the need for and healing nature of doing life with someone. We carry it because we are called to love as Jesus loved — the same Jesus who stood between a woman and her accusers and took a knee in protest to their mishandling of her body. We are called to co-carry and we do it because we are called to “mourn with those who mourn.” And we love those whose crosses we are called to carry.

I write this reflection, then, as an acknowledgment of this weight. I write this as I prayerfully consider the pastors and ministers who are carrying their own crosses and the crosses of others. Let us be mindful to pray for our ministerial leaders because they will not turn away their ear or heart from those who need someone to bear the cross with them. Let us be mindful to pray for our ministerial leaders because they are human as well and are in need of grace during this challenging and uncertain time. The preacher/proclaimer/pastor is a human and carries the many crosses associated with that as well as the many crosses that we joyfully co-carry with others.

We will not refrain from co-carrying the many crosses that others must bare. We only ask that you extend grace as we do it. For, indeed, the cross is heavy for us, too.