With what oil abounding was Christ anointed! From his bounty he poured oil into all our wounds! Yes, we are the wounded man who went down to Jericho, fell among brigands, was robbed, and wounded and left half dead. Too many passed by and there was not one to save his life. That great patriarch Abraham passed by, for he was not the one to justify but only justified through faith in the one to come. Moses passed by, for he was not the giver of grace but the lawgiver, giver of that Law which leads no one to the perfect one. For justice does not come from the Law. Aaron passed by. The priest passed by, and by the same victims which he offered unceasingly he was unable to ‘cleanse men’s consciences from dead works to serve the living God’. Patriarch, pontiff and prophet passed by, as barren in spirit as in deed; indeed, in the wounded man they also were wounded.
At the sight of the wounded only that true Samaritan is moved with compassion, is all compassion; he poured oil into wounds, himself into hearts, cleansing by faith the hearts of all.
Gilbert of Hoyland
