Living for things or people? – Fr Paul Chetcuti SJ

People were created to be loved. Things were created to be used. The reason why the world is in chaos is because things are being loved and people are being used. (Dalai Lama) In the beginning, God created heaven and earth and furnished them with all kinds of things – stars, planets, twigs and leaves, living creatures of all kinds and sizes. All these creatures were driven by their needs. And God saw that all this was good. But God was not finished. He did the unthinkable. He passed on the very thing that made him God – freedom – to a new fragile creature. Like him, this new creature would be driven by its choices, not by its needs. Freedom means being able to decide what one wants, and want what one decides. This is being human. And God saw that this was very good. This is why, when our mythical first parents met, they immediately fell in love. They did not just need each other. They freely wanted each other. From that moment, all creation gained a new meaning. Love turned all things into gifts of love. These extraordinary, gifted human creatures realised they still had needs like all other creatures – to eat, to drink, warmth and protection. They cheerfully continued helping...