October 5
Saint Faustina
Kowalska, Virgin
 |
| My picture enhanced by Google AI. |
Today’s Gospel: Luke 10:25-37
(The Good Samaritan)
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
The Parable of the Good Samaritan. But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who
is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “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 traveler 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
neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with
mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Reflection:
A man asks Jesus,
"Who is my neighbor?" Jesus doesn't give a definition. He tells a
story. A Samaritan sees a wounded stranger, stops, kneels, and pours oil and
wine on his wounds, and then he pays for his continued care. Many early
Christians saw Jesus Himself in that Samaritan. He is the One who stops for
every wounded one of us. Then He says, "Go and do likewise."
Saint Faustina did exactly that. She was a humble Polish sister. No degrees, no platform, just pure love. Jesus gave her one message to carry: Jesus, I trust in You. She wrote it down; she prayed it and spent her life living it. Mercy wasn't simply an idea to her; it was something you do with your hands, with your time, and with your patience, every living moment of your life.
You can pray it today. The Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed on your ordinary Rosary beads. And if you're near the dome, go find her statue on the far side, across from Padre Pio. Stand there and pray the chaplet slowly. Living a life Beneath the Standard of Mary must be woven into your heart, as you live those words each and every day.
Who is the wounded person on your road today? Maybe they're lonely, discouraged, or far from God. What small act of mercy could you offer them, with Our Lady walking beside you? Stop, kneel down, and let Jesus pour His oil and wine through your hands.
Rosary Man Jim 🌹
Freely given. Freely
shared.
