Reflection On The Good Samaritan — First, we must pity the ill fortune of the man who fell unarmed and helpless among robbers, and who was so rash and unwise as to choose the road in which he could not escape the attack. For the unarmed can never escape the armed, the heedless the villain, the unwary the malicious.
Malice is ever armed with guile, fenced around with cruelty, fortified with deceit, and ready for fierce attack.
He poured in wine, that is the blood of His passion, and oil that is the anointing of the chrism, that pardon might be granted by His blood, sanctification be conferred by the chrism . . .
The wounded parts are bound up the heavenly Physician, and contain a slave within themselves. By the working of the remedy they are restored to their former soundness.
Having poured in wine and oil, he placed him upon His beast . . .
For the Inn is the Church which receives travelers, who are tired with their journey through the world, and oppressed with the load of their sins. It’s here the wearied traveler casting down the burden of his sins is relieved, and after being refreshed is restored with wholesome food. For outside is everything that is conflicting, hurtful, and evil while within the Inn is contained all rest and health.
If you see anyone oppressed, say not surely he is wicked, but be he Gentile or Jew and needs help, dispute not, he has a claim to your assistance, into whatever evil he as fallen.
Reflection On The Good Samaritan
