Universal Destination of Goods and Priorities

S. Margaret John Kelly responds as follows to Rick's observation about the universal destination of goods:

"I agree that the universal destination of goods is a difficult concept or principle, but necessary.  If we want to juxtapose it to private property, we need to see that need always wins out over possession.  However it is difficult to find the landscape or context in which this can be done and create a little bit of human guilt along the way.  The story of Dives shows that he wasn't condemned for having wealth but for ignoring those who needed it.  It was easier in that story becuase he almost had to walk over them.  If we are convinced our lives are "on loan" from the Creator, it is easy to admit that we are not landlord of the Lord's universe of even owner of our own talents.

"I thought of this driving in today when I heard a story about the obscene bonuses that were given on Wall Street this year, particularly the individual who received over 50 million.  That is absurd and a good example of social sin with lots of people within that system hoping they will do better next year and so complicitous in a way.  Where is the leadership to stem the tide against this generation's robber barons?  Egos are weak when they rely upon matter.  As the Hindu wrote: 'When our hearts are empty, we fill them with things.'"