Midweek Devotion 2 April 2025

on

Reading

Luke 10:36-37

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Devotion


Today's work of art is Van Gogh's "The Good Samaritan."  Its current location is the Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, Netherlands.  The first thing I notice is that it reminds me of Rembrandt's and Delacroix's renditions of this important Biblical scene.  The second thing I notice is that it is much brighter and more vibrant than either of the other works.  This is fascinating as Van Gogh created his version while recuperating at the asylum of Saint-Rémy after suffering from two mental breakdowns in the winter of 1888-89.  From his own darkness he creates an image of light.

The victim of the robbers clings to the Samaritan.  The Samaritan struggles to get the injured man onto the very patient horse (from the right side of the horse no less).  The two who passed by may be seen in the background.  I love the contrast between the detail of the figures and the broad brush strokes of the natural scene.  I love the light that is coming in from above in contrast to the shadow of the narrow ravine.

I chose today's painting after hearing a talk by a Benedictine Sister of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison about immigration and the Gospel.   She asked provoking questions.  Who is my neighbor?  How should neighbors be treated?  How does one attend to the good of human dignity and respect, the need to have a regularized process of maintaining boundaries, and that the language we use to describe people must not turn them into things.  Isn't that the way of the world, dear reader, that whenever people are treated as things evil is to be found?

Prayer

Lord Jesus,

You teach us in your parable that there are two kinds of people--

--those who bend down to help and those who look the other way.

Which kind of people will we be?

We say, “Yes, Lord, I will love you and love my neighbor.”

But then we ask:

The migrant... is she my neighbor?

Those in poverty...are they my neighbors?

Victims of war across the world... are they neighbors?

One who faces racism… is he my neighbor?

Those disabled or elderly... are they my neighbors?

You remind us: Yes. All of us neighbors.

Show us how to love, Lord.

May we open our eyes.

May we emerge from our comfortable isolation.

May we build a world of compassion and dignity.

Lord Jesus, who was neighbor to all,

Help us to persevere in love.

Help us to restore dignity to the suffering.

Help us to build a society based not on exclusion, but on community.

Amen. Help Us to Love Like the Good Samaritan | USCCB