True disciples prepare and are not alarmed about the Second Coming of the Lord, they are ready for it. The liturgical year is almost ending for cycle B.  As usual the last weeks of the Ordinary Time are forward looking to the Second Coming.   This is perhaps the best way to name what is to happen when the Lord comes in glory to judge the living and the dead and His kingdom will have no end, the Second Coming.  This is part of the Creed.  This is what the disciples should look forward to happening because all will be consummated in a glorious manner.  It is His Second Coming and not the end of the world.  Hollywood science fiction wants to put this time as a catastrophic event where everything will be destroyed.  The faith claims this is the time where all will be fully restored.   But since Hollywood wants to sell movies, and scare people along the way, many have the notion that when Jesus comes all be a disaster.  Others have the notion that they will be raptured into heaven in a kind of an instantaneous disappearance (a magic show!) while others will be left behind.   Others have tried to predict when this event (however distorted they have it) will happen.  There was a famous so-called pastor from another denomination that had given a specific time for the end of the world and the time came and went and nothing happen.  It is a futile exercise to predict when His Coming will happen. Even St. Mark in the Gospel for today states that only the Father (in heaven) knows when it will happen.   Yet God has given ample time for people to be born, for people to repent, and adhere to plan of salvation.  It is true that in the prayer of Our Father we long for the kingdom to come, but perhaps ask God for a little more time so that we can get “our act together.”  Regardless, it is important to not fear when the Lord comes, but look forward with joyful expectation, and yes, avoid making predictions about it.  A true disciple does not worry about when the Lord will come, but rather expects Him with an open heart anytime, anywhere. A true disciple does not need to know the day nor the hour, but just be ready.  A true disciple will live life following the lessons given by the Lord, living a good, decent, and moral life.   A true disciple will read the signs of the times, and plan accordingly to achieve salvation.  A true disciple will listen to the words of Christ knowing heaven and earth may pass away, but His word will never pass away.   The true disciple will find comfort in the words of Jesus, a promise for the resurrection.  There is a saying that can be translated well in many languages, “If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.” If a disciple has lived life well, then there is nothing to fear.  In fact, the disciple who has lived life well is ready to enter the kingdom of God at any time and looks forward to it!