Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
“He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him.” (Luke 10:34)
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Christ gives us a beautiful image of His mercy toward us. The man wounded by the robbers is helpless and unable to save himself, but the Samaritan stops, cares for his wounds, and carries him to an inn to continue his recovery. St. Augustine sees a parallel here with our own Christian life. The wounded man can represent us in our fallen state, while the Samaritan points to Christ, who comes to us in our weakness. The oil and wine used to treat his wounds can remind us of the healing grace Christ continues to give us, while the inn can be seen as an image of the Church, where this healing continues. As St. Augustine puts it, “His error indeed was already pardoned, and yet his weakness is in the process of healing in the inn.” We may receive forgiveness, but we are still being healed. The Christian life is a journey in which Christ continually binds up our wounds and leads us toward our heavenly home.
Reflection by Br. Augustine Kroeze, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections