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Seeing the Person — Friday, 05/15/2026

Scripture: Luke 10:33-37

In the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus intentionally chooses a person many listeners would have viewed with suspicion or prejudice to become the hero.

The Samaritan sees what others ignored: a wounded human being.

That is one of the clearest differences between fear and compassion.

Fear asks: “What category does this person belong to?”
Love asks: “What does this person need?”

The priest and Levite in the story likely had reasons for avoiding the injured man. They may have been afraid, busy, cautious, or concerned about ritual purity.

But compassion moved the Samaritan toward the wounded person instead of away.

That same challenge confronts us every day.

In a busy and divided world, it becomes easy to stop seeing people. We rush through grocery stores, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods without slowing down enough to recognize someone else’s pain, loneliness, or humanity.

But followers of Jesus are invited to live differently.

Compassion begins when we stop seeing interruptions and start seeing people.

Reflection Question: Who around me might need compassion, attention, or kindness right now?

Action Step: Slow down long enough today to genuinely notice and encourage one person you would normally overlook.

Prayer: Compassionate Christ, teach me to truly see people instead of rushing past them. Amen.