Luke 10:25-37
The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of Jesus’ most popular tales. Two figures who should have shown compassion ignore a pressing need while an especially unlikely character – one viewed as an enemy – takes pity on the half-dead victim, cares for him and concerns himself for him even after he leaves. The Good Samaritan is Jesus Who already has done everything for us and for our salvation.
THE GOOD SAMARITAN
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time [C]
Today’s parable that Jesus tells about the good Samaritan relays the very story of our redemption (Luke 10:25-37).
The character falling victim to robbers who is stripped and beaten and left half-dead on the road represents us all. In this manner, the drama goes far beyond Jesus’ illustrative tale and is experienced in real time. It happens every time we dare to draw near to Jesus as we truly are, meekly and contritely showing Him the wounds of our soul caused by sin in order that He may care for us.
It further occurs at every Mass in a real and mysterious way. It is here, at every Mass, that we enter into the one true sacrifice of the Son to the Father made expressly for us and for out salvation. We go to Mass to meet Jesus, the Good Samaritan, who is moved by compassion to remedy our dire condition. We go to Mass to petition and receive His sanctifying grace (read: power). The more we recognize and admit our neediness to Jesus, the Good Samaritan, the more Jesus applies the splendid fruits of His redemption to us. When He presents Himself to us in the Holy Eucharist – Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity – He heals our wounds. Mind you, not only do exterior wounds stand to be healed, but so too does divine grace work to remedy our interior ones, extravagantly pouring into them the “oil and wine” of His saving action. Our blessed Lord Jesus takes us protectively in His arms to a safe place, the Church, as symbolized by the inn, having paid in full the price of our ransom with His own life, suffering, death and resurrection.
