This world as we know it will pass away. Only God is eternal. Even before the world comes to an end (we do not need to bother about when), many things in our lives show us how transitory life on earth is.

Many people knock down the houses their fathers built only a few decades ago and erect new ones, which they consider better and more modern. In doing that, they invest so much energy and resources and even compromise their faith and morals (some cheat, rob, steal public funds, visit "ritualists" and juju priests). But a few decades from now, their sons (or others) will knock down these same houses in order to built yet newer and better ones.

And we are bound to ask: Is it always worth ALL the trouble? "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away" (Lk 21:29). Only God is eternal. To be eternal like him, we have to live in his Word and allow his Word to live in us.

This we can do by listening to his Word, meditating on it and letting it guide our steps towards eternal life. "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (Jn 6:68).

We can also become one with his Word through a reverential reception of the Eucharist. "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day" (Jn 6:54).

May God keep you in his love.

+Godfrey I. Ona