A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ Moved to compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ (Mark 1: 40-41)

The translator has rendered the Greek thelo as choose. Other reasonable translations include intend, desire, will, or resolve.

Jesus made a choice. It was not a purely emotional response. It was done with an awareness of risk. Jesus consciously chose to heal the leper.

Too often I do good or ill without intention. Too often I am so unaware of my choosing that it can barely be called a choice.

Jesus is attentive, aware, mindful of his context and his interactions with context. He seeks to shape the context in a particular way.

Dear God, may I bring to this day awareness, compassion, and courage.