Humanity is the most creative species we know. Yet this infinite richness of the human spirit is ultimately driven by one, deep desire: peace and happiness.

All roads lead to Rome, but do all human decisions and actions lead to peace and happiness? We all agree, at least instinctively, on the common goal. Yet the means to get there are a free-for-all. Each epoch, society, group and individual has been trying out its own path to the holy grail.

Biblical mythology represents this holy grail as a forbidden fruit. But why, in spite of the abundant variety of fruit trees in the garden, does humanity still crave for the one tree that seems to be forbidden? Is this an image of how unreachable the goal of true peace and happiness is? In simpler terms, why are we so incapable of achieving what we desperately desire? Why do our efforts destroy what we wish so much to achieve?

Human history is littered with failed attempts to grasp the recipe of lasting wellbeing. So many self-defeating attempts have been and are being tried today as always, resulting only in what seems to be a disastrous mess.

Let’s start with politics. In the early days, when we were still jungle apes, we relied on might as right, making strength and power a guarantee of dominance and survival. Yet conflicts and violence decimated us.

So we created monarchy, bestowing divine and supreme powers on an anointed king to save us from ourselves. Monarchy too morphed into an oppressive slave master. Wars and conflicts still decimated us. The people then rose up to wrest power from their oppressive kings and established republics and democracies.

But the alpha male (or female) always succeeded to climb to the top of the pile, decimating people in the name of the people. Liberators still ended up entrenched dictators. Democracies degenerated into collective ego trips, mistaking numbers for truth, peace and justice. No wonder that even today model democracies are falling in love with incapable, vulgar, ruthless, self-seeking, corrupt ruling classes grooming the equally self-seeking, corrupt masses who elect them in so-called free and fair elections.

We can put our trust in knowledge, science and technology, turning them also into a source of power. Little do we realise that when the ability to do something becomes a right to do it, we simply regress to the jungle law of ‘might is right’. The ability-right to create babies or to mercy-kill those suffering does not necessarily mean loving them. Prolonging or shortening life does not necessarily make it more meaningful.

Exploiting the environment does not necessarily mean improving the quality of life. Making life more comfortable does not necessarily make it easier. No, science and technology by themselves do not take us an inch closer to peace and happiness. Neither do educational, health, social and welfare systems by themselves, however wonderful they may be. Development and fulfilment are still not perfect synonyms.

Amidst this cacophony of failed attempts, one frail voice had the courage to proclaim the truth: “There is no alternative to love,” said Pope Francis whilst declaring a Missionary of Love, Mother Teresa, a saint.

If humanity wants to make its political, scientific, humanitarian endeavours truly life-giving it has just one option – the love people can have for one another. Everything finds its meaning only as an expression of love.

Love is our God because He-She is the only meaningful source of happiness on offer. Our thirst for peace and happiness is our thirst for God.

This is the only real choice we can make if we want to be truly human, created in His image and likeness. If we have the guts and humility to make it, we won’t need to seek any other alternative to make peace and justice a reality in our poor and suffering world.

Let us pray with Pope Francis: “May [Mother Teresa], this tireless worker of mercy, help us increasingly to understand that our only criterion for action is gratuitous love, free from every ideology and all obligations, offered freely to everyone without distinction of language, culture, race or religion.”

paulchetcuti@icloud.com

Fr Paul Chetcuti is a member of the Society of Jesus.

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