Heal Me...If You Wish

The gospel for Mass today comes from Luke 5. A leper approaches Jesus and says, "Lord, make me clean, if you wish." What faith! This man believed God has the power to heal, but his prayer is one of surrender. There is trust that God will do what is in the leper's best interest. I have to believe that if Jesus said "no", the leper still believes, still prays, still has faith, and ultimately still surrenders.

I want this faith. I want this prayer to be my own. I want this type of surrender. But if I'm honest, that's not always the case. A priest advised me once that if the desire isn't present, then ask God for the desire to desire (fill in the blank- peace, faith, love, patience, humility...you name the virtue). So maybe today my prayer won't sound like the leper. Instead my prayer is, "Lord, give me the desire to desire surrender."