And Jesus continued, “There was a rich man, and his land had produced a good harvest. He thought, ‘What
shall I do, for I am short of room to store my harvest? Alright, I know what I shall do: I will pull down my barns
and I will build bigger ones, to store all this grain, which is my wealth. Then I will say to myself: My friend, you
have a lot of good things put by for many years. Rest, eat, drink and enjoy yourself.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool!
This very night your life will be taken from you. Tell me, who shall get all you have put aside?’
This is the lot of the one who stores up riches for himself and is not wealthy in the eyes of God.”

Read: The book of Ecclesiastes laments the meaninglessness and irony of human life. Paul asks Colossians to
set one’s mind on the things from above. Jesus relativizes earthly riches and invites us to seek to be wealthy in
the eyes of God.

Reflect: In the 1989 movie Dead Poets Society, John Keating, the new English teacher, leads his students towards
a group photo of senior alumni (who are all now dead), displayed prominently in the school. Referring to them, Keating
observes: “The world was their oyster. They believed they were destined for greatness…. But these boys are now
fertilizing daffodils.” Shocking imagery, but so very true! How we obsess about many material achievements in life, as if
we would live forever! We live as if death happens to someone else, and not to us! Once a woman in her late 80s came
to me to discuss her endof- life decisions. While speaking, she repeatedly used the phrase, “if I die…” I gently said to her:
“Perhaps you might want to say, ‘when I die.’” She stood stunned for a moment and then broke into a smile of recognition.

Pray: Pray for a clear awareness about our true home and destiny.

Act: Spend some time in a cemetery, meditating on the fragility of life.

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