The Samaritan, when he comes across a wounded traveller, is moved with compassion. He bandages his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. He then takes the injured man to an inn where he asks the innkeeper to look after him and offers to pay him.
A number of Christian writers have explored the image of the oil and wine and the innkeeper. The oil and wine poured into his wounds are images of the Sacrament of Healing (which uses oil) and the Eucharist (wine). The innkeeper images the ministers of the Church and the inn the Church itself. The innkeeper opens his inn to the wounded traveller and is ready to
nurse him back to health in partnership with the Samaritan (the community) who supports them. The innkeeper and Samaritan are willing to accompany the wounded man – “whatever more you must spend”(vs 35) – for however long it takes.
Pope Francis invites the Church to become a “field hospital” – a place where those wounded by life can be nursed back to health and wholeness. He uses the image of a field hospital which is mobile and ready to go wherever there are wounded people. This is at the heart of his vision for the Church, a Church that seeks to bind the wounds of those who have been
“attacked” on the journey of life (wounds in any form) and restore them to health.
In some of our Christian communities the story of the Good Samaritan is lived well. People do find others who are ready to accompany them, bring them to compassionate ministers who are willing to administer the sacraments (those visible and tangible signs of God working) generously to them.
Sadly, there are others who are left on the side of the road because fellow travellers are selfish with their oil and wine. They find that the doors of the inn are closed and the innkeeper is nowhere to be found.
How we reach out to and accompany those who have been robbed, stripped and beaten on the journey of life reveals how close we are to the mercy that Jesus insists upon. At the end of the parable Jesus says to the lawyer “Go and do likewise.” He says the same to us today.
Take time to reflect on your Christian community or Church today. Is accompaniment of the wounded a priority? Do people find a space and place of healing and care in your “inn”? What is God’s invitation to you today as you reflect on the words “Go and do likewise”?
