Several aspects of the Good Samaritan story make his a type of Christ and explain the relationship between Christ, the mankind, and the Church.

Jerusalem and Jericho are placed at different levels in the story. The victim, the priest and the levite are described going down from Jerusalem, to the place of sin, which Jericho was. This is consistent with the abandonment of the call to sanctity initially given the nation of Israel.

The victim is wounded, but not dead, consistent with the Catholic teaching of the Original sin, which has left us wounded, but not dead -- not utterly depraved and still capable of good.

The Samaritan pours oil and wine with which he helps the victim, indicating the sacraments of the Church. He leaves for Jerusalem, the Heavenly city, but, like Christ, promises to return. He leaves a deposit -- two coins, traditionally understood as the two testaments of the Bible.

The innkeeper, a type of Church, is instructed to take care fo the victim, till his Savior returns. It is interesting that it is anticipated that the inn will spend more than the Samaritan has deposited, indicating that the Church of Christ will have to add her own effort to the deposit of faith left by Christ. The Treasure of Merits theology can be seen in this parable.

I had not thought about all the things you brought up, especially the innkeeper being the Church. Most of the rest I had pondered in one way or another.

Great reflection! Makes me think that you have a lot of gifts to give.

The Word Among Us

Monday, October 09, 2006

Meditation
Galatians 1:6-12

Imagine yourself as a member of the Galatian church. You are a Gentile living in a rural setting far away from both the metropolis of Rome and Christianity’s mother church in Jerusalem. You are a pagan by birth, and the only “gospel” you’ve ever heard is the good news that Paul preached about Jesus’ death and resurrection. Freed from sin by the power of God, you are rejoicing in your newfound faith in Jesus and enjoying the intimacy with God that the Holy Spirit has poured upon you.

But then, shortly after Paul leaves to continue his missionary work, some fringe members of the Jewish-Christian community in Jerusalem come to help you understand what it means to live out your faith. Being a recent convert, you welcome their input, only to find yourself immersed in all sorts of customs and traditions: dietary restrictions, circumcision, and strict sabbath regulations. Instead of the freedom that you once knew, you find that the simple gospel Paul first preached has become buried under a pile of laws and customs. You never realized how much was necessary to “complete” your faith!

This is the kind of confusion that troubled Paul when he wrote his passionate, occasionally caustic Letter to the Galatians. After a very brief opening, Paul gets right to the point. He urges these new believers not to desert the God who had called them to a life of grace in favor of laws. He reminds them that the heart of the gospel is the power of God to change their lives and asks them whether they are still experiencing this power.

We too are meant to live in freedom and power. But like the Galatians, we too can get off course. In a world of competing “gospels,” it’s not hard to lose sight of Jesus and forget what it’s like to have his message penetrating our hearts. Without Jesus, none of our customs, traditions, laws, and observances make sense. They become devoid of power to change us. So today, turn to your first love—Jesus. Ask his Spirit to make the gospel so real to you that you want nothing more than to live a different way—the way of his power, his humility, and his love.

“Praise you, Jesus, for so great a salvation! Thank you for freeing me from the power of sin and death. Help me to live always in your victory.”

Psalm 111:1-2,7-10;Luke 10:25-37

One Bread, One Body

<< Monday, October 9, 2006 >>

St. Denis & Companions
St. John Leonardi

Galatians 1:6-12

Psalm 111

Luke 10:25-37

View Readings

IT DOESN'T ADD UP

"What must I do to inherit everlasting life?" —Luke 10:25

St. Paul founded the churches of Galatia on his missionary journeys. He preached that people were set right with God not by any efforts or actions of their own, but by having faith in Jesus Christ (Gal 2:16; 3:22, 26). Eventually, Paul moved on to other cities to preach the gospel.

A few years later, traveling evangelists visited Galatia. These men taught that more was required to be justified with God. They accepted that faith in Jesus was necessary, but then taught that people needed to go beyond "just faith." They probably accused Paul of being soft on the Gentile converts of Galatia, that he watered down the gospel by making it too easy. These men demanded the Galatians add circumcision and dietary restrictions to faith in Jesus. This message probably sounded challenging to the Galatians, and so they went over to another gospel (Gal 1:6).

If we depend on anything besides what Jesus did for us in His death and resurrection, then we "treat God's gracious gift" of salvation by faith in Jesus "as pointless" (Gal 2:21). We act as if "Christ died to no purpose!" (Gal 2:21) Paul said this: "Pay close attention to me, Paul, when I tell you that if you have yourselves circumcised, Christ will be of no use to you!" (Gal 5:2)

For the next ten days, the Church proclaims to us the letter to the Galatians. Read Galatians as if for the first time. Examine anew the basis of your faith. Is there any way in which you are telling Jesus that His death and resurrection were inadequate for you? Are you adding anything to Jesus? Subtract the additions. Simply accept Jesus as Lord, Savior, and God by faith.

Prayer: Jesus, may I never consider You to be a puny God.

Promise: "He has sent deliverance to His people; He has ratified His covenant forever." —Ps 111:9

Praise: St. John ministered to the imprisoned and hospitalized, and inspired several young men to also become priests.

Compline -- Night Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 85 (86)
A poor man's prayer in time of trouble
Lord God, you are full of mercies, patient and true. Alleluia.
Turn your ear to me, Lord, and hear me, for I am poor and destitute. Keep my life safe, for I am faithful; O God, save your servant, who trusts in you. Take pity upon me, O Lord, for I call to you all the day long. Make your servant’s heart glad, for to you, O Lord, I have raised it. For you, Lord, are gentle and mild: you are kind to all those who call on you. Let your ears hear my prayer, O Lord! Turn to the voice of my pleading! In my time of trouble I call on you, for you, O Lord, will hear me. No other god is like you, O Lord, and nothing compares with your works. All people – all nations you made – will come and worship before you; they will give glory to your name. For you are great, you work wonders: you alone are God. O Lord, teach me your paths, and I will come to your truth. Make my heart simple and guileless, so that it honours your name. I will proclaim you, Lord my God, and give you praise with all my heart. I will give glory to your name for ever, for your great kindness is upon me: you have rescued me from the deepest depths. O God, the proud rise against me, in the meetings of the powerful they seek my life: they do not keep you in their sight. And you, Lord, are a God of compassion, full of mercies, patient and true. Look upon me, have mercy upon me, give your strength and protection to your servant your servant, the child of your handmaid. Give me a sign of your goodness, let my enemies see it and be confounded; because you, O Lord, have helped me and given me comfort. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Lord God, you are full of mercies, patient and true. Alleluia.

Reading	1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
God chose that we should receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us; so that, asleep or awake, we should still live with him.

Short Responsory	?
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Canticle	Nunc Dimittis
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. Alleluia.
Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled your promise. My own eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples. A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness; the glory of your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. Alleluia.

Prayer
Let us pray. Give our bodies rest, Lord, to restore them; and let the seeds sown by our labours today grow and yield an eternal harvest. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.

A M E N

An antiphon to Our Lady should be recited here.

Faith-sharing bump.

Good Samaritan bump.