By now I imagine that most if not all Catholics are aware of the contraception mandate that is being aggressively pushed upon all religious groups by President Obama and his administration. Here in the state of Washington, we also have the tyranny of the president’s mandate being enhanced to also try to force religious groups (and all employers) to provide for abortion. And let’s not forget the redefinition of marriage that only awaits the signature of our governor, who is a baptized Catholic.

I spend a great deal of my free time reading the news online, posting on Facebook and corresponding with family & friends. With all that has been going on, I’ve had a great deal to post about, especially in spreading the word to pray, fast and contact state & government legislatures.

One of the responses I got on Facebook caught my attention. Upon posting encouragement to resist the tyranny of this mandate, one friend posted a simple response: “Whats the point?”.

And what is the point? Whether we voted for them or not, politicians seem determined to do whatever they want. And even those who are Catholic have sacrificed their faith on the altar of modern values. I doubt that any of us could deny that despair at having any effect has at least occurred to us, if not set in from time to time.

Today we see this leper approach Jesus, and its not hard to imagine the conversation that we hear. “If you wish, you can make me clean.” … but what’s the point? We’ve all heard in the first reading how awful it is to have leprosy. Not only does the disease take its toll on you physically, but you had to live as an outcast for the rest of your life. Tearing your garments in mourning and yelling ‘unclean, unclean’ so as to set yourself apart from those who have not been touched by the disease.

Imagine the weight this man carried as he made his request: “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Its not hard to imagine the despair in his voice, a lack of hope as he thinks to himself “whats the point?”.

And Jesus responds. “I do will it. Be made clean.” No sooner has He said these words than He has healed the man, touching him as He does. Imagine the shock of hearing these words, of feeling – perhaps for the first time in years – the touch of another person. And then looking down at your hands and seeing them clear of any of the wounds and sores of leprosy!

Jesus goes on to give what should be a simple direction – “tell no one anything”. And yet, who can blame this man for telling anyone – if not everyone! I wouldn’t blame this poor man for not only telling, but telling for weeks, months and even years of what had been done for him. “I do will it” indeed!

So we too make our appeal to God, and have said as much as we offered our psalm: “I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.” We’ve turned to God, and en masse. It is time now to open ourselves to the joy of salvation.

It isn’t that we’ve finished our work (au contraire!) or that we will even see it finished soon. Yet God wills nothing but the good. God will make good of this, and more!, if only we will place our faith – as the leper – in Him. Let us take heart that as followers of Christ, His brothers & sisters and His friends, He does will the good for us. Let us keep working – and be joyful doing so – because we’ve got something even great to share with the world.