When I first began to learn about Ignatian spirituality, I was coming to the table knowing truly nothing about it and little about St. Ignatius. While the tenets of this spirituality and the charisms were all fascinating in their respective ways (and continue to be), one of the most fascinating was the notion that God works through our desires. So often in my prayer life, I have asked God what he wants of me. This is an important question, and one Jesus can make concretely clear, as in today's gospel when he calls the twelve apostles. Indeed, Jesus, in calling the twelve, is acting on his own desire for these individuals to join him in mission.

Still, our desire is important. It is part of who we are and comes from deep inside us. It is the well from which we reciprocate God's call with a response. The desire to be loved, to be accepted, to be healed, to be seen for who we are, to come to know ourselves, to love others... I could go on. The crowds who surround Jesus in today's gospel are acting from this deep desire. They are desperate for what he can give - and only he can give.

I still ask God in prayer, What do you want of me? Perhaps we can take a cue from the crowd who shared that same level ground with Jesus, and simply reach out - out of our deep desire - trusting that God's power will come forth with what we need.