Time for Christ
by Alexandru Radulescu, Religious Education Committee

Time, as a concept, is a reality in which we live. It has a beginning and an end.

As creatures of God, we all have a beginning in our existence.  Our history has a starting point.  Time defines our existence, measures its flow in years, days, hours, minutes, and is passing away without ceasing, in a constant rhythm.  Yet, time has something to do with our salvation.

God does not have a beginning or an end in His existence.  He surpasses time, is not bond to it.  Although, everything He creates has a beginning.  He has the power to be beyond time and space and be wherever He wants in the same time.

Christ came into the world at a certain time to redeem us from the bond of sin.  He entered history and our time for this very purpose.  Since Pentecost, the Church was visibly established in time.  Christ is now always with us and we have the opportunity to be always in touch with Him through the Holy Eucharist.

By birth, we come into the world and become subject to time.  Even after death, we continue our existence.  Our soul is unique and enjoys a divine feature, is immortal.  It will ever enjoy its existence.  The body dies, but at the end of times it will be reunited with the soul in order to fully enjoy the glory of God and be in His presence or forever suffer the consequences of sin.

So, time is essential for our salvation.  Compared to eternity, our earthly life is just like a drop in the ocean, is very short but determines our future.  That is why the time to repent and live a life in Christ is now, not when we grow old, nor later when we will be in the mood.  We cannot predict the time of our death.  We can only work for our salvation during our earthly life.  It is not so important what we WERE, but what we ARE and especially, what we WILL BE!  We may have been the greatest sinners and our spiritual past is not something to be proud of, but as long as we live, there is still time to change our future.  The Lord said: “We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4).

The time is now...

* from the weekly bulletin of St. George Cathedral, Southfield/Detroit MI