[For the attentive celebrant of the liturgy,] the future offers another possibility for his pastoral use of time. He should encourage his people to look forward, through and beyond the transitory moments of this life, to the telos, to the finality and purpose of it all. As a pastor, he is leading his people toward the eschaton, to the goal and beatific fulfillment of our journey through time to eternity. That is the eschatological meaning of the annual cycles of Christian seasons and celebrations. It is also the reason Christians have traditionally turned to pray towards the East, where the dawn of Christ lights this world in anticipation of his eternal Day. Like liturgical orientation, the Church year points beyond itself. It is never…