Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him.

You are not a distant God
Who ignores the pain of your people.
You empathise with those who suffer.

When the leper asked, “If You want to, You can cure me.”
You replied, “Of course I want to. Be cured!”

The leper did not doubt what You could do for him.
Surely the leper wanted so much to be cured of the terrible illness
and the painful death that awaited him.
But he didn’t make demands of you.

“I know you can heal me and stop the pain I’m going through.
But I’m not going to demand that you heal me.
You know what’s best for me
and you will give me the strength to endure
if you’re not going to work a miracle.”

I don’t have the courage to make this my prayer.

So I ask for courage.