THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
The glory of the New Dispensation is again set forth in the Scriptures
for this day, but the parable of the Good Samaritan comes in with singular
fitness, since the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity almost always occurs
during the harvest (at some time between August 17th and September 19th),
when the Christian charities of social life are a subject that should mingle
with our thanksgivings for God's goodness in giving us the fruits of the
season. The parable sets forth, in its mystical phase, the exceeding
goodness and charity of the Lord Himself, Who became the good Samaritan
to human nature at large when it had fallen into the hands of spiritual
foes, had been stripped of the clothing of original righteousness, and
left half dead in trespasses and sins. But out of the love which
Christ bore springs our love both to Him and to our neighbour. We
love Him because He first loved us; and our love for others is the necessary
fruit of our love for Him. It is the application of this principle
which forms the literal teaching of the parable; the extreme case given
being given for that very reason to show how extensive is the bond of neighbourliness;
and how extensive, in consequence, the character of the duties which spring
out of it. If a Jew and a Samaritan are set forth for our example
as neighbours in the Christian sense, what Christians are not neighbours
to each other?
The temporal gifts of God's good Providence suggest, then, an awakening
of the spirit of kindliness, that those who are among the less "fortunate"
may be looked upon by those who are more so as sent to test their practical
Christianity: and those who read the parable rightly can hardly fail to
find some occasion for an active obedience to our Lord's precept, "Go,
and do likewise."
