The risks of democracy

Now there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where he was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean." Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do will it. Be made clean." And the leprosy left him immediately. Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but "Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them." The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray. (Lk 5, 12-16)

Many people tend to confuse happiness with the satisfaction of their instincts. In a democracy, whoever promises the complete satisfaction of such instincts easily obtains the votes necessary to rise to the height of power. Many people are ready to submit to him, without asking if such a powerful person acts according to the will of God. Jesus does exactly the opposite: before performing a miracle with material effects, he often asks for an act of faith. Jesus, does not want the submission obtained out of necessity but obedience that is freely chosen through an experience of His love, and so whenever he works a miracle he asks first for faith and then, from those who have experienced the miracle, he asks for silence, and he himself retires into solitary places. For Him power is an act of service. Let us learn from the example of our Divine Master and always ask ourselves if what we want is conformed to the true, the good, and the beautiful, not in our own eyes, but in the eyes of God.