Guided reflection:

In today’s passages, Matt and Mark only mention Simon, who was forced to carry the cross for Jesus, but Luke, the compassionate physician, notices how it affects everyone – the women wailed and lamented him. Jesus even speaks to the women of that generation and changes their focus from himself to cry for their lost generation. On these next few days, for your reflection, place yourself in the scenes… what are you thinking? With whom do you identify?

Guided prayer:

Use the words to an old hymn Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free?

No, there’s a cross for everyone one, and there’s a cross for me.”