Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
October 7, 2024

Today’s Readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100724.cfm

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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.”
Luke 10:33-37

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Mercy sees you, welcomes you, acts for you, abides with you. Wrapped in Mercy, we find the spiritual comfort which allows us healing rest from those who did not see, welcome, act for, or abide with us.

Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy:
May we open ourselves to receive such Mercy. May we strenghten ourselves to give it generously.

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Poetry: Xenia – Ryan Wilson

“Xenia” is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality,
the generosity shown to those who are far from home.

One day a silent man arrives 
At your door in an outdated suit, 
Threadbare and black, like a lost mourner 
Or a Bible salesman who’s been robbed. 
Penniless, he needs a place to stay. 
And you, magnanimous you, soon find 
This stranger reading in your chair, 
Eating your cereal, drinking your tea, 
Or standing in your clothes at the window 
Awash in afternoon’s alien light. 
You tire of his constant company. 
Your floorboards creak with his shuffling footfalls, 
Haunting dark rooms deep in the night. 
You lie awake in blackness, listening, 
Cursing the charity or pride 
That opened up the door for him 
And wonder how to explain yourself.

He smells like durian and smoke 
But it’s mostly his presence, irksome, fogging 
The mind up like breath on a mirror … 
You practice cruelty in a mirror, 
Then practice sympathetic faces. 
You ghoul. 
Your cunning can’t deceive you. 
You are afraid to call your friends 
For help, knowing what they would say. 
It’s just you two. 
You throw a fit when 
He sneaks water into the whisky bottle, 
Then make amends. 
You have no choice 
Except to learn humility, 
To love this stranger as yourself, 
Who won’t love you, or ever leave.

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Music: The Good Samaritan – Dallas Holm

Beaten, weary, left along the way
Dry from thirst ’til word I could not say
Then you came walking by and looked into my eyes
And saw my need and stopped to rescue me

Others came and others went on by
Refused to help or just too tired to try
Alone at last I sat, my head fell slowly back
And words from deep within me reached the sky

‘I’m hungry, please feed me
I’m naked, please clothe me
I’m so alone, won’t someone come to me?’
The sound of my words died
Oh, well, at least I tried
And trying seemed the only thing to do

But no sooner had I stopped and you were there
And then I knew that God had heard my prayer
I should have realized, and not have been surprised
His eye is on the sparrow, so why not me

Beaten, weary, left along the way
Dry from thirst ’til word I could not say
Then you came walking by, and looked into my eyes
And saw my need and stopped to rescue me
Then you came walking by, and looked into my eyes
And saw my need and stopped to rescue me