To have some goals and ambitions in life can be a good thing.
At least we will have some directions and meaning in life.
But goals and ambitions can begin to turn to greed and self-centeredness.
And when a person is obsessed with greed and selfishness, the inevitable is that there will be a disregard and disrespect for God.
In the 1st reading, king Antiochus had reached the pinnacle of his reign.
He was powerful, but he became greedy and over-ambitious.
He forgot that he was mere human, and he had a disregard and disrespect for God.
It can be said that he brought about his own downfall and he died a miserable man.
The lesson for us and for humanity is that our lives are temporal and that God is eternal.
Yet, this great and eternal God wants to give us life and meaning.
Let us revere and honour God for He is our Lord and Saviour.
Without the God of life and love, we may exist but we will not know the joy and meaning of life.