I know I’m dating myself, but in my youth there was a song from the band R.E.M called It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine). As the liturgical year comes to a close, we are reminded about the end of times, and to make preparations for them instead of fearing them.

Honestly, the only thing I remember about the song is that refrain. It’s quite catchy and occasionally it will pop into my head and I’ll sing it over again a few times. But that line alone is powerful enough to reflect on, as it is in keeping with how we should approach the end of the world. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 24 contains Jesus’ teaching on the end of days. “You will hear of wars and reports of wars; see that you are not alarmed, for these things must happen, but it will not yet be the end. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be famines and earthquakes from place to place.” (Matt 24:6-7) From Jesus’ own words, it’s not just man-made calamities that will occur, but also those of the natural world. These tribulations will affect people at a survival level, and for those not directly affected, we are called to assist in whatever way we can. Those who are directly affected can say it is the end of their world as they know it. They will need to rebuild their lives, either in the same location, or travel elsewhere and seek to rebuild what they once had. It is not wrong to own property, furnishings, and clothes, we just need to have a detachment from them so that we are not crushed if we are affected by cataclysmic changes. When we are affected by disasters, we trust in God to lead us through and bless us as He sees fit to do so. That may be by generously giving us more than we need, or it may be giving us just enough to live without any luxuries, which may be less than what we’ve been accustomed to living.

Even without a declared war, violence can be experienced at any time or place. We cannot predict what another will do. We also cannot live in fear that something will happen, so we take proper precautions to be aware of our surroundings and be prepared for anything. Recalling back to my childhood, it seems the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me,” is no longer common sense. Saying the wrong word or addressing a person incorrectly may be the tipping point for some to use violence as a way to respond to the perceived injury. The current social climate is one of being wary about others, who may not see an act of kindness the same as you or I would.

Thinking about these items from my youth remind me that the world has changed much since the 1980s; some good changes, and some very troubling changes. As digital and technological advances make artificial intelligence (AI) commonplace, it is also leading our society into places we are not yet prepared to go. We do not know how this will affect us even five years into the future, let alone the future of children being born at this time. AI is neither good nor bad in and of itself, but rather the results of how AI is used will determine how much of a detriment there is on the human race. The more we become reliant on it and allow it to think for us, the further away from the truth we will find ourselves. AI will lead us to the end of the world as we know it and into a different world. It may be in our lifetime or it may be in the next generation, but things will definitely be different. No matter what the advancements are, the world will never be the same as it is in this moment, and we can never come back to this moment either.

Change can be scary. It can be overwhelming, especially when there is a lot of change all at once. It can make our heads dizzy trying to keep up with the new “normal.” God, however, does not change. He is eternal. His teachings are true no matter how advanced or rustic we are. He will always be there for us and seek to have a relationship with us, no matter what craziness the world showers upon us. As we conclude the year dedicated to the virtue of hope, we are reminded once again, that when we hope in God and trust in His Divine Providence, He will see us through our trials and tribulations. He doesn’t promise a world without suffering, but rather that the suffering will have purpose and meaning far deeper than we will ever be able to understand this side of heaven. Even when things seem so bleak and crushing us, through our tears we can say that we feel fine because we have faith in God. Our emotions do not dictate our belief, but are rather a barometer of how the world is affecting us. We can feel both scared at the changes in the world as well as courage to practice our faith. We can be angry at the unnecessary violence in our neighborhoods, towns, and cities, but we can also feel the peace of God and the need to share it with those we meet. 

When we are centered on Jesus Christ as our model, we can face the end of the world as we know it and feel not just fine, but joyful at the coming of the kingdom of God. He is our supreme good and all we need, both now and forever in eternity.