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Saturday, August 24, 2024

Oiling the Samaritan


Sermon for the thirteenth Sunday after Trinity 

One of the reasons
that many of us give
for not wanting to live
a long time ago
is the poor quality
of healthcare.

We don't want to live
with leeches
or knives used for bleeding 
or the horrible way
In which those suffering 
from mental diseases
were treated.

Indeed,
if we were lying bleeding 
by the side of the road,
would we want someone 
to pour oil and wine
onto our wounds?

[PAUSE]

"Ah!" you might say,
"the ancients often know
better remedies for illness
than we do now."

It's a good point
given how artificial 
much of our treatment 
appears.

Indeed, we have found
that olive oil can be used 
as an anti-inflammatory 
and disinfectant.

We have found that wine
can stimulate blood flow
and has other properties
that help the healing process.

But they have their limitations.

You wouldn't want 
to use them 
if the wound is infected.

But for a temporary solution 
to a wound
you could do a lot worse 
than pour oil and wine on it.

[PAUSE]

For the Samaritan
binding the wounds
of the poor traveller,
a temporary solution 
is all you need.

Once you get him 
to the inn 
and pay for his care,
then those wounds 
will be washed
and treated carefully 
and heal
ready for the Samaritan's return.

But oil and wine
will do for now.

[PAUSE]

Does this mean
that, in order to be
a good neighbour 
we need to be carrying around
oil and wine just in case?

Well that might do 
for the likes of Jamie Oliver
having balsamic vinegar,
turmeric and quince zest
in his back pocket,
but for us
that seems unlikely.

Remember,
Our Lord is expecting 
us to have mercy,
not whip up sour dough
at a moment's notice.

But one thing 
that is good to know
is that the Greek word for mercy
- and you know it 
when we sing 
Kyrie eleison -
is related to the pouring on
of oil.

Each time
we show mercy
we are pouring oil 
onto wounds
or onto troubled water.

We anoint with oil 
as a cleansing and purifying 
substance.

It eases stiff necks
and softens proud hearts.

This is why we are told 
to use oil
in our sacraments.

As the oil cleanses us outwardly, 
inwardly we are cleansed 
by the Holy Ghost Himself.

We show mercy
when we seek 
to calm a situation 
and dispel evil thinking,
cruel intentions 
and defuse anger.

Just as the Samaritan 
seeks to cleanse the wounds 
of the poor embattled traveller,
so do we seek 
to cleanse the wounds of Sin
not by condemnation 
but by forgiveness, truth, beauty 
and love.

[PAUSE]

We use oil 
at Baptism,
Confirmation,
Ordination,
and Unction
so that the Holy Ghost 
may bring us His peace in our lives.

He is the oil
that will ease our path
back to Heaven.




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