The Fallen, the Broken, and the House of Healing

Our Gospel reading today is Jesus' teaching of the Parable of the Good Samaritan. The harmony of the early Church Fathers teach us that this parable is actually the great parable of our salvation; God's wisdom and design for how He would bring mankind to salvation. Jesus is the Samaritan who sees the fallen man robbed and beaten half dead. It is He who begins to heal him with oil and wine (the Sacraments). Jesus brings the broken man into the inn (the Church, the House of Healing) for the completion of the fallen man's healing and restoration. This parable is about all of us. It reveals the love, compassion, and mercy of our God. And, it reveals to us that wonder that we have been invited to join with Christ in His ministry of salvation, by grace, for all who have been brought into the inn.