1 Samuel 4:1-11 / Mark 1:40-45
Generally speaking, there are three types of responses to our prayers.
One is “Yes” and that could mean that God answered our prayer immediately because probably there was an urgency for it.
The other is “No” and we have to believe that God has something better for us.
The third would be the most common, and that is “Wait” and that would mean that we have to be patient and trust in God.
For the leper in the gospel passage, he would have been praying to God for a cure.
There was no “Yes” to his prayer, and he had waited and waited.
Finally when he came before Jesus, the leper was desperate and he also didn’t know what to expect.
His prayer “If you want to, you can cure me” had that tone of resignation, and he was prepared to accept a “No” and give up hope.
The reply of Jesus was astonishing as well as astounding: Of course I want to! Be cured!
It was like Jesus was waiting eagerly to say “Yes” to the leper’s prayer.
Let us believe that our prayers will be heard by Jesus.
And it will be answered in God’s time and at the right time.
And it will be answered in an astounding and astonishing way that will make us believe that God loves us so much.