Jonah 1:1 - 2:1, 11 / Luke 10:25-37
There are many characters in today's parable of the Good Samaritan.
Each character had a different attitude towards the wounded man.
To the lawyer who tried to disconcert Jesus, the wounded man was a subject of discussion.
To the thieves in the parable, the wounded man was someone to abuse and exploit.
To the priest and the Levite, the wounded man was a problem to be avoided.
To the Samaritan, the wounded man was a human being who needed immediate help.
So now, who is the wounded man to us?
Indeed there are many wounded people around us - some may be wounded by an unhappy or broken marriage; some may be hurting by painful and abusive relationships; others may be hurting from being neglected and living lonely and miserable lives.
But these wounded people may remind us of ourselves, in that we are also wounded by our own sins.
In the Eucharist, Jesus heals and strengthens us so that we can get up and turn to God and walk in the way of life and love.
And just as Jesus heals and strengthens us, so may we go forth and heal and help those who are wounded and hurting.