Blessed are the eyes

O Christians, your eyes are truly blessed if you see in the Good Samaritan not merely an admonition to love your neighbor, which of course you should do, but a picture of your Lord Jesus who came not merely as a foreigner to your city and country, but who came down from heaven, to help you, who were half dead beside the road, in your trespasses and sins, and who gave you new life by the healing balm of forgiveness, the oil and wine of the Blessed Sacraments, his own beast of his righteousness before God, taking you to the inn, that is, the church, and directing the innkeeper, that is, the pastor, to care for you until he returns. So kind he has been to you, therefore now you can see the pattern for your own life to follow: to be kind to your neighbors when they need your help and aid, that is, to go and do likewise. Sermon for Trinity XIII.