THE TERM “An Inconvenient Truth” brings to mind the documentary about global warming and the dire consequences that will ensue. Whether you agree or disagree with the documentary's thrust, the message delivered was strong. Another “Inconvenient Truth” faces us in the pages of the New Testament in the Gospel of Luke (10:25-37). Its message is also strong and challenges some of our attitudes about who our neighbor is and about the meaning of “inconvenient compassion.” The parable of the Good Samaritan is familiar to all of us. We have read it, heard it proclaimed in church or elsewhere, and have heard many sermons and talks about its meaning and application.  A short review of the parable will refresh our memories. The story details how a traveler, going from Jerusalem to Jericho, “fell prey to robbers” and was beaten and left half dead. A priest and a Levite both passed him by, leaving him on the road. A Samaritan-a group at odds with the Jews-stopped and took care of him. He dressed the traveler's wounds and brought him to a place of safety, using his own money at the inn. But the Samaritan did not stop there. He promised that, on his return, he would pay whatever was owed to the innkeeper. Jesus is using this parable to answer the question, “And who is my neighbor?” In the parable, he deftly instructs the lawyer who was questioning him and leads the lawyer to the awareness that the wounded man's true neighbor is “The one who treated him with compassion.” Jesus concludes with, “Then go and do likewise.” We need to step back now and reflect upon all that took place in this Gospel parable, perhaps even looking at the painting of this scene by Van Gogh to help us imagine all the characters in the story.  After all of the elements of this event and the various meanings it contains have been thought through, we can let our minds go in the direction that is clearest for us. I will move in the direction of “inconvenient compassion” and how Jesus' parable challenges us with a new ideal.  Like the men in the parable, we often have the choice to stop and help someone-be it as dramatic as a car accident or as simple as holding a door for someone-or to continue on our way because we have important work to do. The choice is ours and the time for helping is rarely convenient.

I feel the tug to give some money to the homeless person at the traffic light, but I am in a hurry to get somewhere-important, of course-and I don't help him. Someone calls me, friend or family member, and wants to talk about his or her present sufferings, but I dread staying on the phone and make excuses to end the call. I just don't have the time now. It is too inconvenient to listen, and I am so overwhelmed with demands on my time. Being compassionate is just not convenient right now. Now is the time for me and, I hope, you to ponder Jesus' message in the parable of the Good Samaritan: we are called to be compassionate to those in need whether it is convenient or inconvenient. We are asked to remember that, “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do to me” (Mt 25:40). Jesus is the one we serve when we are compassionate to those who suffer. He is the one we are united to when we love. The Good Samarian (After Delacroix) by Vincent van Gogh