Reflection
Monday of the Twenty Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Gal 1:6-12
Psalm 111:1b-2, 7-8, 9, 10c
Luke 10:25-37
We all know the story of the Good Samaritan. It has moral, theological, and allegorical implications.
Jesus plainly teaches that, unlike those who followed ancient purity laws rather than help a dying victim of violence, we should imitate the Samaritan, who readily aided someone in need. Yet, the interpretations of the Early Church Fathers and the Church’s liturgy reveal a deeper meaning: the parable also speaks of Jesus, the fall of humanity, and the price he paid for its salvation.
Consider the details Jesus provides: the man travels down from Jerusalem to Jericho, a journey of about 17 miles that descends nearly 3,200 feet. The terrain is rough, and travelers are easy targets. Jericho is one of the lowest cities on earth - think of sin - while Jerusalem stands on a mountain - think of heaven. The man’s dangerous journey leaves him vulnerable to robbers and thieves, much as the road of sin steals our peace and dignity, exposes us to harm, and clouds our ability to distinguish right from wrong.
The man is stripped and beaten; likewise, sin humiliates and knocks us down. Religious leaders travel the same road but protect themselves under the cover of adherence to the law. They, too, are compromised by sin and cannot help the half-dead man because of their own fallen nature.
The Samaritan, by contrast, is an outsider moved by compassion, he can be understood as a figure of Jesus. He pours oil and wine into the man’s wounds, images of healing through sacramentals and of Jesus’ presence in the wine that becomes his precious blood, poured out for us. Through the Sacraments, Jesus applies healing balm to the wounds of sin, nourishes and sustains us.
St. Augustine sees the inn as a symbol of the Church, where the wounded man finds rest and healing. Just as the Good Samaritan pays for the dying man’s care, Jesus ransomed us from sin through his passion and death on the cross, paying the ultimate price for our eternal souls.
Jesus asks, “Which one was acting like a neighbor?” The scholar answers, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus replies, “Go and do likewise.” Read as a metaphor of Christ - his compassion for us in our sinfulness, his desire to heal us, his saving action on the cross, and his gift of the Church - the parable clarifies our calling. As the mystical body of Christ, we are to be sanctuaries of healing and comfort, we must show mercy to anyone in need, without prejudice.
As we celebrate the feast day of St. Faustina, today, the Secretary of Mercy, we are reminded of the depth of mercy we have received and should extend to others. In her diary, we read that Jesus
told her: “I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first – by deed, the second – by word, the third – by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me.”
Today, lets’ reach out, comfort someone who needs to hear our voice, and consider praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.