From the Friars: Love Gives Ownership

In the parable of the Prodigal Son the older son is angry because his father has killed the fatted calf to celebrate the return of his brother. He complains that the father had never given him so much as a goat for a party for him and his friends. The father replies, “My son,…everything I have is yours…”This parable is rich with meaning, especially in revealing the merciful heart of our Father in Heaven. But this particular statement teaches us something very important about the nature of authentic, God-like, love. It gives ownership. While praying to his Father, Jesus said, “All I have is yours, and all you have is mine.” (Jn17:10) In the fullness of charity, everything that the one loved is and has belongs to the one who loves.

St. Francis of Assisi experienced this divine love and responded heroically. He gave up all his money and possessions in order to follow Jesus and imitate his poverty. By doing so he discovered the paradox of owning nothing but having everything. St. Paul also wrote, “We are treated…as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” (2Cor6:10) If something good happens to someone I love I should rejoice because this is what love desires, the good of the other. The parents of the class valedictorian are beaming with pride and joy because of the success of their son or daughter. They share the joy because of the deep bond of love between them, even though they themselves won no award.

The fundamental principle of the Church’s Social Doctrine is the Universal Destination of Goods. This means that all the good things of the earth belong to all God’s children, The right to private property comes with a “social mortgage”, as St. John Paul II taught. Those blessed with an abundance have the responsibility to work to ensure that all have what they need to live in dignity and peace. The “me first” attitude inevitably leads to injustice and then reaction to injustice and the never ending cycle of violence that this fallen world is always struggling against.

Imagine what a different world it would be if we actually loved each other the way Jesus loves us and commands us to love. Let us begin the revolution with ourselves.

God bless you.

— Fr. Peter