If you wish… I do will it.

“A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, ‘If you wish, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, ‘I do will it. Be made clean.’ The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.” (Mk 1: 40-42)

Yesterday we read how Our Lord’s heart was “moved with pity for the crowd.” Today we can see Him in action with a leper, who came to Jesus and begged him: “If you wish, you can make me clean.” We can imagine how he was afraid of being rejected and full of doubts—will He do it for me? Who am I? Our Lord’s answer is so detailed: “moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, ‘I do will it. Be made clean.’” God’s love is always the same: He is always moved with pity; His hands are always stretched out; He always wants to touch us, and He always says: “I do will it. Be made clean.” There is no problem with Jesus’ love, only with us, with our love and trust: Do we come to Jesus? Do we kneel down? Do we beg him?—“If you wish”…

“A great prophet has arisen in our midst, God has visited his people.” (Gospel Acclamation)