“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” // Matthew 8:1-4

I recently heard a wise priest say that humility is simply living in reality. The reality of who we are—human, fallen, in need of grace, yet still a child of God. It is also the reality of who God is—all giving, all merciful, all good and loving Father. The leper in today’s Gospel simply says, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean” (Matthew 8:1-4). In so many ways, this line is the picture of humility. It is not a request for more than just what’s needed, it is not excuse making, or lengthy explanations; it is simply an honest acknowledgement of a real and true need, and an unwavering trust that the God of all creation can do it.

I would be remiss not to use this image of the poor leper when examining my own conscience and, in particular, my own struggle against pride. It’s too easy to be falsely humble, to demur and to shy away from either our struggle or our need. It’s too easy to reason away our reliance on the healing touch of the Father, and too easy to rationalize our own sin as the fault of others, or an accident, or whatever else we might come up with to dumb down the reality of our state. It is also too easy to think that the mercy of God is conditional, and not free. 

We are in need of healing, and God is a God Who desires to heal. He is not asking for a lengthy explanation for whatever sickness of sin we currently face, and He does not require the perfect circumstance to bring His mercy down. He is asking us to be simple, to be children, and to reach out fearlessly for His healing touch. To be truly humble.