Categorize this under, “duh, that’s super obvious,” but I feel a need to say this: people are more important than things. I know! I know! What a ridiculous things to have to say! Surely, who doesn’t believe this? Who would possibly argue, seriously, that a physical objects have more inherent value than human beings? Publicly, consciously, no one.

But that doesn’t mean that people don’t believe it.

A quick look to our world betrays any notion that this is an obvious, unnecessary statement. Look at what people spend their money on. Look at what gets people upset. When push comes to shove, I think we see something we don’t want to admit within us, a deference towards worldwide human suffering, and an attachment to things.

I see it in the way that we’ve handled the sex abuse crisis, the burning down of Notre Dame, the outcry against vandalism in our churches. In each of these horrible situations what we see is far greater distress at the loss of things than we do with people’s lives.

This has got to change. Might I recommend reading Jesus’ thoughts on the matter, found in Matthew 25:31-46?