By Rev. Dr. Christopher Metropulos
Sermon for Sunday, November 15, 2026
St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Hollywood, Florida
Epistle: Ephesians 2:14–22
Gospel: Luke 10:25–37
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
There is a story about a priest driving down the highway who noticed a man standing beside his broken-down car. The priest slowed down and thought, “I really should stop and help.” But then he remembered he was late for a church meeting. So he said a quick prayer: “Lord, please send someone to help that poor man.” And he kept driving! A few miles later, his conscience began bothering him. So he prayed again, “Lord, I hope You sent someone by now. And please, don’t let him be a member of my parish!”
We laugh because there is a little of that priest in all of us. We believe in kindness, compassion, and loving our neighbor. But sometimes we would prefer that our neighbor not interrupt our schedule!
Today’s Gospel, the Parable of the Good Samaritan, challenges us to move beyond believing in love to actually living it. And when we place this Gospel alongside St. Paul’s words to the Ephesians, we discover three important lessons.
First: Christ came to tear down walls, not build them. St. Paul tells us: “For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility.” (Ephesians 2:14) Christ has broken down the walls that separate us. Walls of prejudice, resentment, pride, and, perhaps most dangerous of all, indifference.
Look at our world today. We have more ways to communicate than ever before, yet we seem to understand one another less and less. We have hundreds of friends on social media, yet loneliness continues to grow. We divide people into categories: conservative or liberal, rich or poor, American or foreigner. Sometimes we even judge people by which television news channel they watch!
But Christ did not come to reinforce our divisions. He came to reconcile us to God and to one another. Before we are Greeks or Americans, Republicans or Democrats, wealthy or struggling, we are human beings created in the image and likeness of God. Even the person we disagree with bears God’s image.
Our Orthodox faith does not ask us to abandon truth in the name of love. It asks us to speak the truth with love and to love without abandoning the truth.
Second: Love is not measured by what we say, but by what we do. In today’s Gospel, a lawyer approaches Jesus and asks: “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He correctly answers that we must love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love our neighbor as ourselves. A perfect answer! An A-plus in any Sunday School class.
But then he asks: “And who is my neighbor?” There it is! He wasn’t asking how much he could love. He was asking how little he could love and still be considered righteous. In other words, “Lord, exactly where does my responsibility end?”
Jesus responds with the story of a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho who is attacked, beaten, and left half dead. A priest comes along, sees the wounded man, and passes by. Then a Levite comes along and does the same.
Now, as a priest myself, I must admit this is not exactly my favorite Gospel passage to preach! Couldn’t Jesus have made the first fellow a tax collector? Or perhaps a politician? But no! He makes him a priest! And there is a reason. Jesus reminds us that religious titles, theological knowledge, beautiful vestments, and faithful church attendance mean little if they do not transform how we treat others.
Then comes the Samaritan. Remember, Samaritans and Jews had deep historical and religious divisions. Yet the Samaritan stops, approaches the wounded man, binds his wounds, takes him to an inn, and pays for his care. The Samaritan doesn’t simply feel compassion. He acts upon it.
We encounter wounded people every day. People wounded by illness, grief, loneliness, family struggles, or disappointment. Some may even be sitting beside us in church this morning. They smile and tell us everything is fine, but inside they are hurting. And Christ asks each of us: Will you pass by, or will you stop?
Sometimes being a Good Samaritan doesn’t require money. It requires something more difficult: our time. A phone call to someone lonely. A visit to someone sick. An apology to someone we have hurt. Or the courage to forgive someone who has hurt us.
Third: We are called not simply to admire the Good Samaritan, but to become one. St. Paul tells us that through Christ we are no longer strangers and foreigners, but members of God’s household. We belong to one spiritual family, much larger than those who look like us, speak our language, or share our opinions. Our Church must be a place where the lonely discover belonging, the wounded discover healing, and the stranger discovers welcome.
Here at St. George, as in every Orthodox parish, we are blessed with beautiful traditions. Our Divine Liturgy, sacred icons, magnificent hymns, and, of course, our wonderful Greek food! Although sometimes I wonder whether a few people are more enthusiastic about the festival than the fasting! But these blessings must lead us toward something greater. They must lead us toward Christ, and Christ must lead us toward one another.
In my book, From Chaos to Christ, I reflect on one of the great challenges facing our society. We are surrounded by information, but we are desperately in need of formation. We know more, communicate more, and are constantly connected, but that doesn’t mean we love more, care more, or are truly present to one another. Through prayer, worship, repentance, and Holy Communion, Christ forms our hearts to become more like His. We do not come to church simply to learn about God. We come to become more like Christ in the way we love.
The Fathers of the Church also saw the wounded traveler as an image of fallen humanity and the Good Samaritan as an image of Christ Himself. Christ approaches us when we are wounded. He does not pass us by. He lifts us up, heals our wounds, and brings us into His Church, that spiritual hospital where healing begins. And if Christ has shown such mercy to us, how can we refuse to show mercy to others?
Conclusion: Go and do likewise. At the end of today’s Gospel, Jesus asks which man proved to be a neighbor. The lawyer answers: “The one who showed mercy.” And Jesus replies: “Go and do likewise.”
Notice, Jesus doesn’t say, “Go and think about it.” He doesn’t say, “Go and form a committee to study the situation.” And He certainly doesn’t say, “Go and post something inspirational about it on Facebook!” He says, “Go and do likewise.”
So let me leave you with one simple challenge. Before this week is over, find one person who needs a Good Samaritan. Someone lonely, grieving, struggling, or needing encouragement. Perhaps even someone with whom you have disagreed. Reach out to them, and don’t wait until it’s convenient.
My dear brothers and sisters, St. Paul reminds us that Christ has broken down the walls that divide us. The Good Samaritan reminds us that love must cross the road to reach those who are hurting. And Jesus reminds us that eternal life is not simply something we hope to receive someday. It is a life of love that begins here and now. May we become the hands that lift the fallen, the hearts that welcome the stranger, and the instruments through which Christ’s love enters a wounded world.
Because in the end, our Lord will not ask us how many arguments we won or how impressive our accomplishments were. He will ask whether we loved, whether we showed mercy, and whether we recognized His face in those who needed us.
Amen.
