It has been said that the Gospel parables are “portraits of Jesus.” One of the renowned stained glass windows in the Cathedral of Chartres intertwines the story of the fall of the human race and today’s Parable of the Good Samaritan. It is an interesting analogy that I would like to explore with you today. For some it may be a new way of interpreting this well- known parable of Our Lord.
Jesus tells us that a man travels from Jerusalem to Jericho. Jerusalem is the symbol of heaven, friendship with God, and a life a grace. Jericho by contrast, is considered a city of sin and evokes the fall of humanity. So this man represents us! Along the way he is assaulted by robbers, recalling how sin robs us of our friendship with God, how it corrupts what is good in us and compromises the divine life within us. Sin leaves us stripped and left half-dead, like the victim in the parable.
A Priest and Levite pass by. They represent, of course, religion, piety, and fidelity to the Law. While we would expect to see from them an active charity, we discover, surprisingly, that they are compromised, imperfect. They pass up a graced moment.
Jesus then introduces a most unlikely character—a Samaritan. The Jews despised Samaritans, considering them heretics. They had fallen in with the pagans. And yet he is the hinge upon which the story turns. Here the portrait of Jesus is forming. To his enemies, Jesus was like a Samaritan! He was suspect for he so often mingled with sinners and outsiders.
What does this Samaritan do? He approaches the victim, dresses his wounds. He pours in oil and wine to heal the wounds. Actually the Samaritan could have passed by, people would understand that he had no social reason to stop and care for the victim.
Jesus had no need to save us or pay us any heed. Yet in the Incarnation, Jesus left his heavenly glory. He approached us, despite our sin and stooped down to take on a human nature so that we might be healed and raised up. The word “Savior” comes from the Latin, salvator...bearer of the salve, the healing balm The oil and wine poured into the wounds are symbolic of the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders which bring us life and strength.
The Samaritan then hoists the poor victim on his own beast and brings him to an inn to be cared for. Jesus took upon himself the burden of the world’s sin and brings us to the inn which is the Church where we are cared for. Pope Francis has often referred to the Church as “a field hospital.”
The next day, the Samaritan gives the innkeeper two silver pieces to continue the care and promises to return and repay any additional expenses incurred. This recalls our Redemption which means simply “to buy back.” Through the cross, Jesus paid the price for sin and remedied the imbalance it caused.
In the Good Samaritan we see the portrait of Jesus and we must become what we see. We must comfort the suffering, bring hope to the sinner. We must bring them healing and strength so that they can begin again.
