The question today is are we living the last days or are we missing the boat on this one?  Many Protestant ministers are on television preaching that the last days are upon us all now.  Environmentalists are saying that the earth will be completely and totally uninhabitable in just a matter of a few years. Can both of these be true?  What should we think and what should we do?

Now that I have your attention on this matter let us look at three aspects of this issue.  

First, since humans by nature tend to worry about things that are completely out of their control, it may seem or appear very strange to some that two completely opposite thinking groups of people have come up with the same conclusion- the world is near its end.  The evangelicals believe that the world is coming to end and the environmentalists believe that the world is coming to an end.  Does this mean that it is true?  Not so fast.  Take a look at their rationale.  The religious are saying that God has had enough of us, and He has left us.  We are on our own in this battle.  The environmentalists say that there is no God, man has done this to themselves and through our bad judgment, we are on our own.  In either case, the common denominator is that we are on our own. In both cases, they are wrong, wrong, wrong.  We are not on our own and there is a God who will help us.  It was God who created man, it was not the man who created God.  This is why and how we know that God will help us always.  

Second at the end of the world.  Is this something that we should even worry about?  The CCC 1007 states:

Clearly, we should worry about our own physical death.  Are we doing everything we can to ensure we do our part in this world while we are still on this earth?  The greatest joy God has is when we do our parts for His work in building up the Kingdom.  Worrying about the end of times is just something that takes us away from the real work in his Kingdom.  Brothers and sisters, we can and we must not get distracted from our goals.  We spread the word about the fact that God lives and Jesus Christ gave his life so that we might all live. 

Third, we should live every day of our life like it will be our last day of life.  We should make the most of every hour we have here on this earth.  Stay close to your family and most importantly stay close to things that are really important to you.  If you do this you will discover a calm sense about your life and the life of others all around you.  

 2 Timothy 3  King James Version

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecution

In conclusion, there were three pieces of evidence to prove my point that we are here on this part of the earth to work out our own salvation.  We will not get to heaven simply through no action on our part.  We must work and do our part every day.  Whether we are living in the last days or not, we must have the sense of urgency to accomplish all that we can for God every single day that we are alive. Here is a very appropriate quote:

Priest of Jesus Christ, celebrate this Holy Mass as if it were your first Mass, your last Mass, your only Mass. ... Priest of Jesus Christ, celebrate this Holy Mass as if it were your first Mass, your last Mass, your only Mass.

Maybe we should celebrate with the Priests more and do our part as well.  Celebrate every day like it was your first day, your last day, and your only day on earth.  Can you imagine how different your life and our world would become?  Amen