Ebeneezer Scrooge was converted when he realized after the visitation of the three ghosts that the past, present, and future are all rolled into one. In liturgy we call that “anamnesis.” We remember the past, pray about the present, and know the potential for the future. As we look toward Christmas we remember a birth in Bethlehem, pray that God will be born in our hearts today, and realize that the fullness of the Incarnation is both coming and already here. We just haven’t experienced the fullness yet. It’s like a basketball game. If your favorite team is 20 points ahead and there’s only a minute left to play, we’re just waiting for the clock to run out. We know the victor. Similarly, we know salvation is ours, we know that the Victor is Christ, and the fullness of redemption is already here. It’s ours. We’re just waiting for the clock (the end of the world) to run out.  The Cosmic Christ (also called Christ in Evolution) is the Victory.

The First Reading today (Isaiah 40:25-31) incites us to lift up our eyes and see who has created all things. He will give us strength, so keep running toward the end of the world, help bring about the fullness of redemption, and don’t grow weary. The clock is ticking.