Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/479

 first is  ignorance,  which  pervades  the  understanding  and disturbs the  order  which  it  originally  had  in  relation  to truth. The second  wound  is  perverseness,  by  which  the will is  disorganized  in  its  pursuit  of  good. The third  is infirmity,  by  which  the  energies  of  the  soul  are  weakened in overcoming  difficulties. The fourth  wound  is  passion, by which  the  wishing  power  of  the  soul  is  disordered  in the  pursuit  of  happiness  and  pleasure. Observe how you are  injured  in  the  faculties  of  your  soul,  and  have recourse to  the  pious  Samaritan  for  a  remedy. Say with the Prophet,  "  Heal  me,  O  Lord,  and  I  shall  be  healed, save  me,  and  I  shall  be  saved." (Jer. xvii.  14.)

III. Neither the  priests,  nor  the  Levites  of  the  ancient law, could  afford  any  assistance  to  "  this  man,  who  was wounded." The good  Samaritan  alone,  Christ  Himself under the  appearance  of  a  sinner,  "  went  up  to  him,"  by his  Incarnation,  "  bound  up  his  wounds,"  and  from  the precious vessels  of  His  sacraments  poured  into  his  wounds " oil  and  wine." When Christ  left  this  world  and  went to His  Father,  He  recommended  this  man  to  the  care  of His  successors,  promising  to  reward  them  "  at  His  return "  to  the  earth,  for  the  care  and  diligence  which  they might display  towards  him. What return  will  you  make to the  pious  Samaritan  for  His  affectionate  conduct  and solicitude for  you?

I. Contemplate  in  this  parable  your  own  fall  and  that of every  other  sinner. Those who  go  from  Jerusalem  to Jericho,  that  is,  who  turn  their  thoughts  and  affections