THE THIRD WEDNESDAY WITHIN EASTERTIDE
The Emmaus Road seemed relatively safe, but the Jericho Road was another story!
It sounds as if it had a bit of a reputation for this, and Jesus telling such a story as the "Good Samaritan" would have "rung bells" amongst His hearers.
Have there been times when life has taken you along a dangerous or difficult route?Who has been a Good Samaritan for you? Towards whom have you been a Good Samaritan?
As I travel the road of life, Samaritan Christ, walk beside me. As I fall into pot-holes, Samaritan Christ, raise me. As I baulk at the rough places, Samaritan Christ, encourage me. As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Samaritan Christ, carry me.
LUKE 10 “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’
Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbour to the robbers’ victim?”
He answered, “The one who treated him with compassion.”
Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
A rabbi was once instructing his disciples. In the course of his teaching he asked them: "When does the day begin?" One answered: "When the sun rises and its soft rays kiss the earth, gilding it with gold, the day has begun." But this response did not satisfy the rabbi. Yet another disciple ventured: "When the birds begin to chorus their lauds and nature herself bounces back to life after the night's slumber, the day has begun." This reply, too, did not please the rabbi. One after the other, all the disciples made bold their answers. But with none of them was the rabbi pleased. Finally, they gave up
and all agitated, asked: "Now, you tell us the right answer! When does the day begin?" And the rabbi answered calmly: "When you see a stranger in the dark and recognize in him or her your brother or sister, the day has dawned! If you do not recognize in the stranger your brother or sister, the sun may have risen, the birds may sing, nature herself may bounce back to life. But it is still night and there is darkness in your heart!"
It is love that gives us eyes to see, a heart to feel, and hands to help. "The call of the Christian is to share this (love) generously on the different roads travelled by humanity today, roads that are new and sometimes dangerous, but always open to people on the move."
Paul CARDINAL Poupard, President, Vatican Pontifical Council for Culture
When we rejoice in health and happiness
and life seems fair and good;
Christ of the roads of Galilee, walk with us.
When we are robbed of opportunity and dignity;
when life’s road is hard to travel;
Christ of the Samaritan Traveller, carry us.
When our decisions are hard, our ways stony
and our hopes dim,
Christ of Gethsemane, weep for us.
When we tread the paths of suffering and loss,
of bitterness and despair;
Christ of the cross at Calvary, stay with us.
When our journey is ended,
and we bring our souls into your keeping;
Christ of the empty tomb, welcome us.
Prayer by Thomas Merton for trust in God’s Providence
I believe that the desire to please you
does please you;
I hope and pray
that I may have that desire in all that I am doing;
I know that if I do this
you will lead me by the right road;
I will trust you always,
even though I may seem lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.
We ask Mary, the Mother of Jesus, to pray with us to her Son
for those making the difficult journey navigating their way through this pandemic,
and for our own journeying through the next few days.
THE REGINA COELI -
Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven. Alleluia!
He whom thou wast meet to bear, alleluia!
As he promised, hath arisen,
alleluia!
Pour for us to him thy prayer,
alleluia!
Rejoice and be glad,O Virgin Mary, alleluia!
For the Lord is risen indeed,
alleluia!
O God, who through the resurrection
of Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ didst vouchsafe to give joy to the world: grant, we beseech thee, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary,we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
Through Christ our Lord.
From the dawning of the day through the morning, guide us, from the noontide to the setting of the sun, lead us, from the evening till we sleep, keep us, through the night till daybreak, protect us, and all for your love's sake;
and the blessing of The Creating,
The Redeeming, and The Ever-Present God
be upon us, this and every day. Amen.
(David Adam – adapted)
