We’ve all seen before-and-after pictures—transformations that tell a story. Today’s gospel (Luke 13:10-17) paints one of those stories. A woman, bent over for 18 years, enters the synagogue. Her “before” picture is one of pain, limitation, and invisibility. But her “after” picture? She’s standing tall, restored, and free. What happened in between? Jesus saw her and touched her.
This isn’t just her story—it’s ours. We’ve all felt bent over by life’s weight: stress, grief, injustice, or the systems that oppress. And we’ve all longed to stand tall, to feel seen and valued. Jesus shows us how: by seeing and touching others with compassion and love.
Think about a time when someone truly saw you—not just looked at you, but acknowledged your worth. Didn’t it make you stand a little taller? Or when someone’s words or actions touched your life in a way they didn’t even realize? That’s the power of seeing and touching—it transforms lives.
But here’s the challenge: too often, like the religious leader in the story, we let rules, opinions, or “the way things have always been” keep us from seeing and touching others. We stand rigid, while others remain bent over. Jesus calls us to something different. He shows us that people come first—always.
Imagine what our world could look like if we lived this way. A community where forgiveness meets offense, love meets hatred, and compassion meets suffering. A world where we see and touch others with the eyes and hands of Christ.
So, who in your life needs to be seen and touched today? What systems or attitudes need to be straightened out? And how can you help create a new “after” picture for someone else?
