What time is it?

I've been practicing the Gregorian chant Mass propers for Christmas Day. One way that chant is different from modern music is that the "beat" is irregular. There isn't a steady downbeat every measure of music to ground the melody. Chant is built out of notes in groups of 2 or 3 with a regular, pulsating rhythm. Sometimes a phrase is written 1 note per syllable. Sometimes a single syllable lasts a half a page. You might say chant is timeless.

This is not the result of medieval ignorance, though. No, it is a carefully thought-out theological statement; it is a participation in the timelessness on the other side of the veil. Remember that chant's proper place is in the liturgy & that the earthly liturgy is a reflection of, a participation in the heavenly liturgy. The timelessness of chant reflects the timelessness of heaven.

If you've been paying attention to the readings & prayers of the Mass & the Liturgy of the Hours, you may be a little confused at what time it is right now. All Advent we have been preparing for the coming of the Christ child, right? Yet we know that Jesus already came as a child over 2,000 years ago. We don't expect him to come back again as a child, do we? Further, many of the prayers & readings refer to Christ's return in glory to judge the world at the end of time. This is especially confusing at Mass when Christ Jesus is present with us in the Eucharist & we say he has dies, he has risen, & he will come again. How can we square all this up?

Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum.

Peter reminds us that for God a thousand years is like a day & a day like a thousand years. God is not subject to time; it is a creation of his on behalf of man. Eternity is not a really long time, it is no time. It is also called all time present before God. This is the "as it was in the beginning, is now, & shall be forever unto ages of ages." Of course, we can scarcely comprehend a life apart from time, so entrenched in it are we. But time is belongs with the changeable, & the changeable belongs to the corruptible. And death has no part with God.

Further, the Church prays like it is the first coming of Christ Jesus because - as the LOH tells us - we should adopt the spirit of Mary, to give ourselves fully to God & patiently & joyfully await his coming into our lives & into the world. This attitude, this closeness to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, will keep us properly focused to hear the Word of God spoken to us & respond, both now & and at the end.

So, even though this time of "yesterday, today, & forever" can bewilder us a bit, don't resist - let yourself enter its whirlwind. We are like the Jews who even today participate in the events of the Passover & Exodus even as they ritually remember it. This holy remembering is how God saves his people. It is foundational to the Church's sacraments. Jesus told us to "Do this in remembrance of me," & we are made present not only to his Crucifixion & Death, but also his Resurrection from the Dead in the Eucharist. This "making present now" is how the sacraments - especially the Eucharist - are a foretaste of sharing in Christ's eternal life.

Perhaps we forget that our destiny is a timeless one. This is why the Church presents us with so many clues. Even if this remains cloaked in mystery, we can be sure of Christ's presence in his Church, today, tomorrow, even unto the consummation of the world. Gaudete! Dominus prope est.