There are plenty of ways to measure one's earthly wealth. There's the old expression: "the one who dies with the most toys, wins." That aapplies particularly to men, I think, and to things boats and cars and snowmobiles and jet skis-- the list goes on. Or one can do a more traditional balance sheet-- real estate, money in the bank, stocks and bonds, other kinds of investments, versus liabilities like mortgages. Cash on hand is always a good measuring stick-- what can you spend to get stuff if you want it. Or there is income-- how much do you make compared to other people. One of the things of which Jesus reminds us today (Lk 12: 13-21) is that those sorts of calculations don't really mean as much as we might think. "Life doesn't consist of possessions," Jesus says. We can get that pretty easily, I think, and we can see and feel the sin of greed, about which Jesus warns us. We've all had that desire to accumulate more than we really need, and felt that envy at what others have when it is more than what we have. But the tricky part of the calculation which Jesus presents today is the measurement of heavenly wealth-- what it means to be "rich in what matters to God." How do we measure that? What is it anyway? How do we get "richer" in something on which we cannot put a dollar value? The problem is that when we start talking about what matters to God, we're in the universe of love-- that combination of action and emotion that is the essence of God. We're talking about selflessly wanting what is best for "the other." Since it can't be bought or sold, there is no way to put a dollar value on it. So how do we get more "rich" in love, if that is what matters to God? Maybe one way to think about it is to look at our energy or our time-- how much of who we are and what we do is associated with love. We might ask ourselves as we go through our days how much of our thoughts, words and actions are driven by or reflective of love-- love for God and love for those around us. Or, put the other way, how much of us is consumed by indifference, anger, jealousy, and a whole raft of other negative attitudes and emotions? It isn't the kind of thing you can put into a bank account, or drive around town. But I think we all know it when we're doing it. We can feel the emotional component of our actions and, if we're honest, recognize whether or not we're building up our soul in that area. How to get "richer" in the things that matter to God, then? Look for ways to love and people to love. Think about how you spend your most precious resource-- your time-- from the perspective of acts that are loving. Reflect on what the Church calls the corporal works of mercy, which are derived from the Last Gospel in Matthew (you know the list-- feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, clothing the naked, visiting those in prison, giving drink to the thirsty, sheltering the homeless and burying the dead) and as to which Pope Francis added a new one-- caring for creation. One can consider the spiritual works of mercy as well-- instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, admonishing sinners, forgiving offenses, praying for the living and the dead, conforting the afflicted, patiently bearing offenses. Obviously less physical, but nevertheless important acts of love. How often do you balance your checkbook or look at your bank statement? How often do you check to see how your stocks are doing? How regularly do you look at your pay stub? Do you check on the frequency with which you engage in acts of loving God and others as often as that? What if you did?