 In the case of this leper, Lord, the leprosy was cleansed immediately, St. Matthew says. Now, maybe our defects are not cleansed immediately. Maybe, if thanks be to God, it might have been the case. Something changed radically after we approached you in prayer or in the sacraments, Lord. But most of the times, it doesn't happen that way. It takes a long time to change, to break bad habits.