November 24, 2024 - Christ The King Sunday - Mirrors and Windows - Parable of the Wounded Man

“You shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your needy neighbor.” (Deuteronomy 15:7)

A wealthy man asked a sage for advice on how to live a better, more meaningful life. The sage welcomed the man and led him to a large window that overlooked the street below.

“What do you see?” the sage asked.

“I see people walking, children playing, and merchants working,” the man replied.

The sage nodded and then took the man to a mirror. “Now, what do you see?”

“Only myself,” the man answered.

The sage smiled and nodded. “Both the window and the mirror are made of glass,” he said. “The only difference is that the mirror is coated with silver. When you add silver, you stop seeing others and see only yourself.”

Today celebrates the Feast of Christ the King in the church liturgical season. The parable revolving around someone who fell victim on the road while Jesus himself was on the road de-emphasized Christ as a king which makes some sense to me, particularly this year.

This is where the story of windows and mirrors suggested itself to me. Of all the characters in the story I think the idea of who is looking at a mirror and who is seeing a window becomes an insightful question.

Pastor Emillie started her sermon focusing on how familiar this parable was to most of us. The parable primarily revolves around the plight of the injured victim and the moral challenge his condition presents to others. By focusing on the "wounded man," the title may draw listeners into identifying with the victim, fostering a deeper emotional connection and understanding of the story's message.

The "Good Samaritan" title emphasizes the Samaritan's identity, which may unintentionally localize the story's moral lesson. If you consider the wounded man as a Christ figure it shifts focus to a broader theme of helping those in need, irrespective of their or the helper's background. 

The lawyer who put the question to Jesus was asking about gaining eternal life. Jesus ends up asking the question of who was a neighbor to the man. The title Parable of the Wounded Man:emphasizes the importance of acting in response to suffering rather than labeling individuals based on their actions or identities.