The stories have already begun, and they will only multiply as Dec. 21 draws near. That’s the date some fear the world will end because that’s when an ancient Mayan calendar runs out in 2012. It has fueled Internet speculation and inspired Hollywood for months.

As tempting as it is to use that fear to scare Catholics into the confessional this Advent, we’ll hope that preparing the way for Jesus at Christmas is inspiration enough for Catholics of the Diocese of Peoria. For we have it on good authority that most of us will celebrate our Savior’s birth on a still-spinning Earth come Dec. 25.

That “good authority” is one of the brightest minds to come out of the Diocese of Peoria. This week, we interviewed Jeff Cooke, a native of Westville and an astronomer who made world headlines in late October when he published findings of a supernova event that is the oldest (10 billion-plus years) and furthest yet discovered.

So we had to ask. Any hints out there the end is near?

“There’s no indication of the ‘end of the world’ on the 21st,” Cooke reassured, pointing out that our sun is only about middle age as far as stars go.

Someday, somehow, the world will end. We know neither the day nor the hour. But we do know that God’s love is eternal, which is what the end of the Glory Be prayer means when we say “world without end.” So don’t get too worked up about about Dec. 21, but also don’t forget that this world is temporary and we’re heading for an eternal home. Get ready! — Thomas J. Dermody