ACC ~ Luke 10 v30 - 35

JERICHO AN IMAGE OF THE WORLD

AMBROSE: Jericho is an image of this world. Adam, cast out from Paradise, [1] that heavenly Jerusalem, [2] descended to it by the mistake of his transgression, that is, departing from the living to hell, for whom change not of place but of conduct made the exile of his nature. He was greatly changed from that Adam who enjoyed eternal blessedness. When he turned aside to worldly sins, Adam fell among thieves, among whom he would not have fallen if he had not strayed from the heavenly command and made himself vulnerable to them. Who are those thieves, if not the angels of night and darkness, who sometimes transform themselves into angels of light [3] but cannot persevere? These first steal the clothes of spiritual grace that we have received and are then accustomed to inflict wounds. If we preserve unstained the garments that we have put on, we cannot feel the robbers’ blows. Beware, for fear that you are first stripped as Adam was first stripped of the heavenly command, defrauded of protection, and divested of the garment of faith. [4] He received a mortal wound by which the whole human race would have fallen if that Samaritan, on his journey, had not tended his serious injuries. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.73. [5]

[1] Gen 3:23.

[2] Heb 12:22.

[3] 2 Cor 11:14.

[4] See Gen 3:7.

[5] EHG 262-63**.

JESUS IS THE GOOD SAMARITAN

AMBROSE: That extraordinary Samaritan did not himself shun him whom the priest and the Levite had shunned. In the name of a sect, you may not shun him whom you will admire by interpretation of the word. Indeed, “guard” is signified by the name Samaritan. The interpretation means this. Who is the Guard, if not, “The Lord preserves the infants”? [1] Thus, as there is one Jew in the letter and another in the spirit, [2] so there is one Samaritan in public, another in secret. Here the Samaritan is going down. Who is he except he who descended from heaven, who also ascended to heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven? [3] When he sees half-dead him whom none could cure before, like her with an issue of blood who had spent all her inheritance on physicians, he came near him. [4] He became a neighbor by acceptance of our common feeling and kin by the gift of mercy. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.74. [5]

[1] Ps 114:6 LXX.

[2] Rom 2:28-29.

[3] Jn 3:13; cf. Jn 6:33.

[4] Mt 9:20; Lk 8:43-44.

[5] EHG 263**.

AN ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN

ORIGEN: One of the elders wanted to interpret the parable as follows. The man who was going down is Adam. Jerusalem is paradise, and Jericho is the world. The robbers are hostile powers. The priest is the law, the Levite is the prophets, and the Samaritan is Christ. The wounds are disobedience. The beast is the Lord’s body. The pandochium (that is, the stable), which accepts all who wish to enter, is the church. The two denarii mean the Father and the Son. The manager of the stable is the head of the church, to whom its care has been entrusted. The fact that the Samaritan promises he will return represents the Savior’s second coming. …

The Samaritan, “who took pity on the man who had fallen among thieves,” is truly a “guardian,” and a closer neighbor than the Law and the Prophets. He showed that he was the man’s neighbor more by deed than by word. According to the passage that says, “Be imitators of me, as I too am of Christ,” [1] it is possible for us to imitate Christ and to pity those who “have fallen among thieves.” We can go to them, bind their wounds, pour in oil and wine, put them on our own animals, and bear their burdens. The Son of God encourages us to do things like this. He is speaking not so much to the teacher of the law as to us and to everyone when he says, “Go and do likewise.” If we do, we will receive eternal life in Christ Jesus, to whom is glory and power for ages of ages. Amen. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 34.3, 9. [2]

[1] 1 Cor 11:1.

[2] FC 94:138, 141*.

GOD’S MERCY FOUND IN THE SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH

AUGUSTINE: Robbers left you half-dead on the road, but you have been found lying there by the passing and kindly Samaritan. Wine and oil have been poured on you. You have received the sacrament of the only-begotten Son. You have been lifted onto his mule. You have believed that Christ became flesh. You have been brought to the inn, and you are being cured in the church.

That is where and why I am speaking. This is what I too, what all of us are doing. We are performing the duties of the innkeeper. He was told, “If you spend any more, I will pay you when I return.” If only we spent at least as much as we have received! However much we spend, brothers and sisters, it is the Lord’s money. SERMON 179A.7-8. [1]

[1] WSA 3 5:312*.

THE PHYSICIAN HAS MANY REMEDIES

AMBROSE: “And bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine.” That Physician has many remedies with which he is accustomed to cure. His speech is a remedy. One of his sayings binds up wounds, another treats with oil, another pours in wine. He binds wounds with a stricter rule. He treats with the forgiveness of sins. He stings with the rebuke of judgment as if with wine. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.75. [1]

[1] EHG 263*.

THE NEXT DAY IS THE DAY OF THE RESURRECTION

AMBROSE: “The next day,” what is this next day, if not that day of the Lord’s resurrection, of which it was said, “This is the day which the Lord has made”? [1] “He took out two coins, and gave them to the host, and said, ‘Take care of him.’” EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.79. [2]

[1] Ps 118:24 (117:24 LXX).

[2] EHG 264*.

THE TWO COINS ARE THE TWO TESTAMENTS

AMBROSE: What are those two coins, unless perhaps the two Testaments that contain revealed within them the image of the eternal King, at the price of whose wounds we are healed? Precious blood redeemed us, that we may avoid the sores of final death. [1] EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.80. [2]

[1] 1 Pet 1:19.

[2] EHG 264*.

THE INNKEEPER IS A STEWARD OF THE MYSTERIES

AMBROSE: Blessed is that innkeeper who can care for another’s wounds. Blessed is he to whom Jesus says, “Whatever you shall spend over and above, I will repay you.” A good steward is one who also spends over and above. Paul is a good steward, whose sermons and epistles overflow with the knowledge that he received. He followed the moderate command of the Lord with almost immoderate effort of mind and body, so that he raised many from deep sorrow by the stewardship of spiritual exhortation. He was a good keeper of his inn, in which the ass knows his master’s crib [1] and the flocks of lambs are enclosed. He feared that the way would be easy for ravening wolves howling outside the corrals to attack the sheepfolds. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.82. [2]

[1] Is 1:3.

[2] EHG 264-65**.

Lk