MAKING TIME THE STUFF OF ETERNITY

The familiar 'OUT WITH THE OLD - IN WITH THE NEW' drives and influences much of personal and public life. It frequently emboldens us to proceed with bravado to make minor and major changes and even alter our very lives.

Some are simple -wardrobe, hairdo, furniture, landscape - and more. It is not so easy with the political, social and institutional. On a personal level it is more important and demands me - character, conduct, virtue, morals, habits, success and more.

In a few weeks all of humanity will experience the end of the 'OLD' year and the start of the 'NEW' year. TIME is one of many realities over which we have no control and cannot change. It happens whether we like it or not. The passing of time from 2007 to 2008 is decisive for everything - especially humans.

YET - TIME is a gift which we, the 'Image and likeness of God' can employ and enjoy. That is because we, like God, can KNOW and LOVE and are FREE to do so in time and for eternity. Yes - we can control HOW we use the gift of time!

From life’s experiences in the passing of years, we become acutely aware of the passing and urgency of time. I am in my 78th year and sense more that for me time seems jet propelled. God's WORD becomes more clear and vital for me. The entire Psalm 90 is an urgent reminder of the gift of time. These verses tell the truth - "Our life is over like a sigh. Our span is seventy years or eighty for those who are strong. Make us know the shortness of our time that we may gain wisdom of heart".

In his divine Son, sent into our world as one of us, Jesus Christ, the NEW ADAM, the way to redeem time and make time the stuff of eternity is open to us. Jesus continues to show the way to use the gift of time in his Church.

Without exception, all humanity will transition from 2007 to 2008. What can it be like for Christians? It ought to be very distinctive. Christians should not just be passing from time to time. We are not just servants of time and worldlings. True, we strive to be effective and happy citizens of this world. For more important, we strive to be effective and happy citizens of the eternal Kingdom of God.

As disciples of Christ and members of his Body, the Church, we end a Church year and begin a new Church year. The culmination and fulfillment of a Year of Grace in which we entered more into the identity, life and mission of Christ, personally and ecclesially, is a celebration of Amazing Grace in Christ.

This Church Year closes on November 25 with the Solemnity of Christ the King. With joy and especially thanks we celebrate our year of grace as it reaches its fullness in the Kingship of Christ, the New Adam.

We celebrate Christ who rules in our minds, hearts and lives more than before because we freely opened ourselves to our Savior during the entire Church Year. From Sunday to Sunday we let his WORD rule in us. In union with Him in every Eucharist we become more and more the 'body given up' and the 'blood poured out', gifts of love to all.

The new Church Year always begins with Advent. On the first Sunday of Advent, December 2, 2007, we, the Church, starts over again as we celebrate the life and mission of Jesus, so that we can enter into it.

We will follow Jesus step by step and listen to his Word as he shows us humanly how to become sons and daughters of God. Each year the Christ Event becomes present so it may become our event. All we remember about Jesus can happen in us because the Jesus we remember is present to bring it about.

Closing the Church Year on November 25 with the Solemnity of Christ the King and opening the new Church Year on December 2 with Advent is a vitally important transition in the life of the Church.

In these two events; past, present and future are linked in Christ 'yesterday, today and forever'.

(More on Christ the King next issue)