Metropolitan Borys Gudziak Reflects on the Parable of the Good Samaritan
On Sunday, November 30, during the 25th Sunday after the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak presided at the Divine Liturgy and offered a reflection on one of the most well-known Gospel passages — the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Preaching at the beginning of the Nativity Fast, he invited the faithful to consider the radical nature of Christ’s call to mercy.
The Gospel recounts the story of a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho who is attacked, beaten, and left half-dead. A priest and a Levite pass by without stopping, while a Samaritan — considered foreign and “unclean” by the Jewish people — becomes the one who saves the injured man. In his homily, Metropolitan Borys highlighted several key themes.
First, he emphasized that the parable is a story of movement. “Jesus moves, the people in the story move — and we also are on a road,” he said. The Archbishop described the historical path from Jerusalem to Jericho as a dangerous, barren stretch where travelers could easily fall victim to attack. “This is where compassion is tested,” he noted.
Second, Metropolitan Borys reflected on the unexpected source of mercy. “It is the Samaritan — the one rejected and considered impure — who stops, tends to the wounded man, and ensures his care,” he explained. The Archbishop stressed that Jesus overturns expectations: the true neighbor is not defined by ethnicity, status, or religious affiliation, but by the willingness to respond to those who suffer. “Your neighbor is the one right before you,” he said, recalling the teaching of Pope Francis.
Third, he connected the Gospel message to the life of the Church and the wider world. While Ukraine continues to endure the devastation of war, he invited the faithful to broaden their awareness of suffering globally — in Sudan, Mexico, and across regions affected by conflict. “If we expect others to stand with us, we must also stand with them,” he stated.
Finally, Metropolitan Borys pointed to examples of mercy within the Archeparchy, including the Good Samaritan Pantry founded by Sister Theodora, which serves both Ukrainian refugees and local neighbors in need. Volunteers also bring meals weekly to the homeless and most vulnerable in Philadelphia. “War awakened our compassion,” he said. “But the Gospel calls us to extend that compassion universally.”
In closing, the Archbishop reflected on the Greek verb used in the parable "σπλαγχνίζομαι" which expresses the deepest level of mercy. “This is the mercy to which Christ calls us,” he said. “As we journey through the Nativity Fast, let us open our hearts so that this mercy may guide us. Only in such a life do we find true peace and true joy.”
