30 December 2004

Beginning again with William Sloane Coffin in "A Passion for the Possible."



Churchgoers have often heard the psalmist's contention that "the earth is the Lord's and all that is in it," and readers of Job will recall God's informing him that "whatever is under the whole heaven is mine." In other words, from a religious point of view, God is the landlord of ultimate title. It was understanding that led Pope Paul VI to say: "Private property does not constitute for anyone an absolute and unconditional right. No one is justified in keeping for his exclusive use what he does not need, when other lack necessities." If I read him correctly, the pope is saying that sharing our surplus is an act of justice rather than an act of benevolence.



One of the problems that may sneak up on all of us is trying to put some sense to what we need because we must also be willing to look at what we do not need. Maybe in a society that is quite focused on private property it would do us well to examine how our "private property" can best be used to serve others. It would be as though we viewed what we have as God's...and then...what do we do with the property that is not completely self-indulgent. How can the property that is God's...that we like to call private (meaning mine), be used to serve others and help to bring a piece of God's healing presence to others? This can be no willy nilly deconstruction of private property or premature jump into a domain in which we do not know how to live. We must be willing to discuss what are the possibilities open to us and others as we consider the just use of what we call "ours."



Connection: Maybe all that is needed today is to think and discuss ways that we can quite literally be connected to others in ways we have never thought possible in a world where mine is mine and yours is yours.



Giver of all things, keep our eyes open to the needs around us and keep our hearts open so that we will be able to find the ways within our lives to reach out to care for others and share what you have given us. Amen.