Micah 5: 1-4

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labour has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth;
and he shall be the one of peace. (Micah 5:2-5)

Our species survived and thrived by predicting the future. Because we perceive time we can anticipate, plan our next steps, and create -- or at least try to create -- an outcome of our choosing.

This essential and wonderful skill -- the source of our imagination, art, science, and nearly all that distinguishes human from non-human -- is also the source of personal worry, social anxiety, competition and conflict. Which vision of the future will prevail?

Those who encountered Jesus disagreed over whether he fulfilled the even-then ancient prophecy of Micah. Would Jesus establish the secure future anticipated? Did Jesus match the plan the set out?

If the life and teaching of Jesus tells us anything of time, surely it is to recognize the sacramental potential of the present moment. God is here, now; the reign of God is at hand; we encounter God in how we engage the relationships unfolding around us.