+JMJ
Do you realized how much God loves you? Truly loves you? How much He cares for you?
Sometimes I wonder how He could? I am riddled with sin, succumb so often to temptation, and hurt Him daily. But I know this idea comes from the devil. The evil one wants me in despair and hopelessness, so I am separated from my Lord.
He showed me His great love and desire to care for me, even though I hurt Him every day through a contemplation from the Good Samaritan.
The Good Samaritan
And Jesus answering, said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, who also stripped him, and having wounded him went away, leaving him half dead. And it chanced, that a certain priest went down the same way: and seeing him, passed by. In like manner also a Levite, when he was near the place and saw him, passed by.
But a certain Samaritan being on his journey, came near him; and seeing him, was moved with compassion. And going up to him bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine: and setting him upon his own beast, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two pence, and gave to the host, and said: Take care of him; and whatsoever thou shalt spend over and above, I, at my return, will repay thee.” -Luke 10:30-35
My Contemplation
I watch the scene play out as the Samaritan is walking along the dirt road. It’s not too busy, but there are a few people walking along. He notices up ahead that a series of people cross over to the other side. When he gets to the spot, he sees a man motionless in the ditch. He is bloody, naked, and covering in dirt from the dust of the road. A pitiful sight.
He stands there staring at the man in the ditch. Trying to figure out how he got there. A couple of people step around him to the other side of the street to avoid the scene, when the poor man groans faintly from the ditch.
He springs into action grabbing a jug of water and a blanket from his donkey. He drapes the blanket over the agonizing man and carefully offers him a drink of water. He returns to his donkey, and retrieves some oil, wine, a large linen cloth. He carefully poured the wine, followed by the oil into each of the gaping wounds. Then, tearing the cloth he gently bound each wound as best as he could for the journey to the next town.
He lifts the man on to his donkey and they start on their way, The journey is slow with many stops, adjustments, and redressing of wounds. When they finally arrive at the inn the Samaritan carefully cleanses the dirt and grime from the poor man’s body.
As soon as the Samaritan lays the man in the clean bed, I am taken to the burial of our Lord. I see the Holy Mother diligently cleanse the dirt, blood, and grime for His Holy Body. Then, I watch as she mixes herbs, spices, and oils carefully in a wooden bowl. She gently applies them to her beloved Son, carefully packing each wound in His torn flesh. She then wraps Him so tenderly, lovingly, and gently in clean linen.
The Care of The Lord
The man is laid in the bed with the greatest care, while our Lord was also laid in the tomb with the greatest love and devotion. Should we not provide this tender, loving care to Him in our lives too? We can do this through intimate prayer with Him, meditating on His passion, and following His will for our lives.
I can imagine the Samaritan leaving payment behind to care for the man. So, our Lord has left us the graces of His passion and death today for the care of our own souls. He paid the debt, which our sins have accumulated, and left more than enough to sufficiently provide us with the graces we need to earn Eternal Salvation.
He also intends to return again, and then He can finish the payment given by His death and bring about His Kingdom in its fullness. Just as the Samaritan will return and cover whatever debt is incurred during His absence.
Our Lord is the Samaritan, giving everything He has to us. We the poor, pitiful, wounded men in the ditch, who have succumbed to sin, temptation, despair, and hopelessness. But His Sacred Heart is moved in compassion for us. Send Him the groanings of your agonizing heart, and let Him tend to the wounds of your sinfulness. Let Him fill them with healing graces and tenderly wash away the dirtiness and grime that is sin. Our Lord cares deeply for you.
Read that slowly….
Our Lord cares deeply for YOU!
Thrive in Jesus, my Friends!
What would your reaction be to seeing a man beaten and bloody on the side of the road? Would you pass on by or stop to help? How can you let the Lord heal you today? What sins are leaving you agonizing in the ditch?