Church urges youth to offer help, adopt lessons from Stations of the Cross 

MANILA, Philippines — The youth are reminded on Good Friday to offer help the way Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus Christ in carrying the cross.

“Sa daan ng krus, makikita natin na sa isang yugto, si Simon Cereneo ay tumulong ay kay Hesus sa pagbubuhat [ng krus],” Manila Cathedral rector Fr. Reggie Malicdem told INQUIRER.net Friday.

Malicdem narrated this part of the Stations of the Cross to encourage the Catholic faithfuls, especially the youth, in helping to “carry the cross.”

“Bilang mga kabataan, ganyan din ang paanyaya sa atin na sana magtulungan tayo sa pagbubuhat ng ating mga krus,” he said.

“Kung si Hesus mismo nga nangailangan ng tulong ng isang tao para sa kanyang pagbubuhat, sana tayo rin mga kabataan, tulungan ang bawat isa magbuhat ng kani kanilang krus. Mga kaibigan nila na may dala dalang krus, magtulungan tayo,” he added.

The year 2019 was declared as the Year of the Youth by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Malicdem further likened the struggles of Jesus Christ to that of the youth’s: “Nakita natin si Hesus ay naghirap din, nasaktan at marami sa ating mga kabataan dumaranas din ng maraming pagsubok, paghihirap.”

He then encouraged the youth to face these hurdles just as Jesus Christ did: “Merong stasyon na nadapa si Hesus. Mga kabataan ganyan sa kanilang buhay, mayroon ding mga pagkakamali, mayroon pagkadapa na naranasan.”

“Pero sana katulad ni Hesus, yakapin ang krus, yakapin ang mga paghihirap na ito. ‘Wag katakutan ang krus, sapagkat sa pagyakap sa Krus, nandoon ‘yung ating kaligtasan,” he added.

Malicdem said this after the Stations of the Cross was held inside the Manila Cathedral where pilgrims prayed to commemorate Jesus Christ’s passion and death.

The Catholic faithfuls trailed the 14 stations or images inside the church depicting the scenes on the passion of Jesus Christ. /jpv