AI Apocalypse

 

Living on the edge of the eternity expecting Christ

11/25/2025

Luke 21:5-11 While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, "All that you see here– the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down." Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky."

In 1993 the rock band Aerosmith released one of their biggest hits called “Livin’ on the Edge.” Now, I love classic rock but that song is bizarre on many levels to say the least. And even though it makes me cringe, I mention it because it contains a kernel of truth, namely, there is a sense in which we must always be “livin’ on the edge.”

As the song suggests, sober and sane Christians should also be “livin’ on the edge” in the sense that the world could end at any time and Jesus return in glory. That is, no matter what activity we are engaged in – sleeping, eating Thanksgiving dinner, working, or even relaxing on vacation – we should be prayerfully vigilant that we are standing on the edge of the end of the world.

I am not recommending that we become anxious or paranoid but rather have a healthy sense that this world is not our final home. The liturgy and the Masses this week make us especially cognizant of “livin on the edge.” How so? Well, we are in the 34th week of Ordinary Time, the last week of the church calendar year. This week is liturgically “the edge” as we conclude the “Year of Luke”, and this coming Sunday commence with the “Year of Matthew.”

That is, we are standing chronologically on the edge about to move from Year C in the church calendar to Year A of the three-year cycle. And the readings from Daniel and Luke are apocalyptic in tone reminding us that all that we see, hear, touch, taste, or smell will come to an end. The Scriptures and sacraments sort of push us to the edge of all that exists and invite us to look over the edge and glimpse eternity.

In other words, the readings this week – if we are paying attention – are intended to cause a certain dizziness or vertigo. And this “edge of eternity” is where Christians are called to live at every moment; indeed to feel comfortable and at home there. I don’t know if Jesus would be a fan of Steven Tyler and Aerosmith, but he might agree that we are constantly “livin’ on the edge.”

He warns his disciples as they gazed admiringly at the massive Jerusalem Temple, which they thought would last forever: “All that you see here – the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” Like the liturgy of the 34th week and the lyrics of Aerosmith, Jesus pushes his disciples toward the edge of eternity and invites them to live there in constant vigilance.

You know, I have been watching the rise of AI – artificial intelligence – with both fascination and foreboding. I am sure you have too. For example, I am fascinated by AI and yesterday I used it to create a picture of me shooting pool with my old friend, Fr. Trung Nguyen to pose on Facebook with my homily. And I also used it to compose a letter for our upcoming new pictorial directory. So we can put AI to many good uses.

On the other hand, I also feel some foreboding regarding AI because I recently heard it described as “the last invention”. Why? Well, because AI will be able to anticipate and even invent things that human intelligence and ingenuity will be too slow and sluggish to figure out.  And naturally, there is no shortage of movies or books fictionalizing how AI could take over the world and even destroy humanity which it may perceive as a threat.

But when I hear about how apocalyptic AI can end up being, I sort of yawn and think, “So what?” Now, some people, even Catholics, maybe react shocked, and say: “Fr. John, don’t you care about the rise of AI? This could spell the end of humanity?!” And my answer would be “Exactly. Didn’t you get the memo?” This edge of eternity is where Jesus calls us to live and even feel comfortable.

Indeed, we could apply Jesus’ words in the gospel to our modern world: “All that you see here – the days will come when there will not be a stone upon another stone.” My friends, do you know that we practice for the end of the world and the coming of Christ at every Mass? Sacramentally-speaking Jesus comes to earth in every Eucharist to reign as King.

And we should be prepared to receive him with clean hearts by going to confession and enthrone him in our hearts at Holy Communion. Every Mass is a dress rehearsal for the end of time and an invitation to be “livin’ on the edge.” And that should give us great peace, even in the face of an AI apocalypse.

Praised be Jesus Christ!