George Harrison of the Beatles died this week. The theme of all of his music was; "Nothing

lasts forever".

Isn’t that true with all of our lives? The companies with the wonderful pays and benefits that we thought were so secure are now closing after being in business for so many years.

We thought that we were so safe in our country. Then September 11 happened.

We thought that we could go to school and be trained for a job. Now we find that those jobs are not available.

We felt that we would be young forever. Now we are not so young anymore.

If it is true that nothing lasts, then in whom or what do we place our hope?

The Word of God today tells us that we are called to put our hope in the second coming of Jesus Christ. The second coming is not to be feared. It is something to look forward to. Isaiah in the first reading tells us that this is when all nations will live in peace with one another. There will be no more evil.

Jesus tells us in another place in the Gospels that just as we all see lightning in the sky no matter where we are standing. so too we will all see Jesus coming in glory no matter where we are.

How do we prepare for this final coming? St. Paul tells us in the second reading that we are called to put on Jesus Christ. Jesus was born in Bethlehem two thousand years ago so that he could be one with us in everything except sin. Jesus comes to us now.

That is the reason why we are baptized and confirmed. Jesus lives in us. Jesus wants to help us grow in his life so that we talk, think and act as Christ. The more we grow in Christ and die less to our lives, the more we are enhancing the final coming.

When he does come, he will be glorified in each of us and in all of creation.