Daily Scripture Reflection for October 5, 2020 Memorial of St. By Grace Beumler

“O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of as a fount of for us, I trust in You!”

It is a wonderful surprise when the assigned Gospel reading in the Church’s lectionary coordinates with the saint whose feast we celebrate on that day. We hear today Jesus’s parable of the good Samaritan, a character whose name has become culturally synonymous with good-deed-doers, and amen to that. May I be so bold as to suggest a new name for this character? – The merciful Samaritan.

Jesus’s description of the Samaritan as he approaches the mangled man supports the new moniker– he “was moved with compassion at the sight.” Com-passion, meaning to suffer with, is the very description of Christ who came into this world to suffer with and for us. He suffered even unto death on the cross, where His heart was pierced, spilling forth blood and water as a fount of mercy. The parable’s image of oil and wine poured upon the wounds of the Image by Ryszard Porzynski beaten traveler, and the attentive, self-giving care which the Samaritan provided, mirror the sacrifice of Christ on calvary.

Saint Faustina, a 20th century Polish sister, devoted her life to sharing the message of God’s mercy. She experienced the oceans of mercy which heal, protect, and sanctify us who are weary, beaten travelers on the road of life. In commissioning the Image (above) and spreading the Divine Mercy Chaplet devotion, Saint Faustina invites us to enter into the abundant care that Jesus has for each of us. Our “Jesus, I trust in you” opens our hearts to accept Christ’s unfathomable mercy, and then to have the grace to offer Christ’s mercy to our weary neighbor. In this way we answer Jesus’s command to go and be like the merciful Samaritan, and like Himself – “Go and do likewise”.