Monday 29th week in ordinary time "Lk 12:13-21" Jesus told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." You know how the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt used to be buried surrounded by all their treasures. It only served to ensure that their graves would be plundered and their treasures taken away. "For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?" A man who was travelling to the Middle East went to visit a holy hermit who lived in a cave with nothing other than was necessary. The man, surprised at his poverty, exclaimed, "Where is your furniture?" The wise hermit answered, "And where is yours?" "But", replied the traveller, "I am on a journey. I don't intend to live here!" "So am I," answered the holy man, "just on my way to Heaven. I don't intend to live on earth for ever!" Everyone has an ambition. As Mother Angelica explained once, some people don't spare any effort to become a banker or a physicist; they would devote their whole lives to being able to add letters like MD, PhD, MBA, at the end of their names. Some people will do anything to gain honours, esteem, fame or money... But all our titles, diplomas, qualifications and credentials will be useless to get into Heaven. The only worthwhile ambition is to add 'St' before our names: to become saints. To become St Thomas, St Charles, St Catherine, St John Capistrano, St ... (fill the gap with your name). We should spare no effort to attain it, because that will be the only achievement that will last for ever! Mary, my Mother, help me make it my great ambition to gather a great treasure in Heaven by loving God on earth.