Whose Millennium? by Denise Malmquist-Little

 
     Since there is no year zero, the next century starts with 2001. So when does the 3rd millennium actually begin? A millennium is a period of 1000 years. It could be from 100-1100 or 1500-2500, but it ends at the end of the last day of the last year, with the new count starting at 1101 or 2501. In theory, if we start at 1 BC, then the 2nd millennium ends with December 31, 1999 and the new begins with January 1, 2000.  My math and science buddies don't buy January 1, 2000, for no one starts counting the millenniums at 1 BC. Besides, some people, like the Hebrews who follow a lunar calendar, it's 5760. For them, it's not a new millennium.

     Whose Calendar?  There are also other calendars whose followers aren't making a millennium fuss either. For example: In the Chinese tradition, it's 4698. On the Muslim calendar, which begins when Mohammed left Mecca for Medina, it's 1421. The Thereveda Buddhist calendar which begins when Buddha died, says it's 2543. On the Persian calendar created by Omar Khayyam, it's 1378. And the Reformed Indian calendar, which begins counting at the start of the Hindu Sake Era, says it's 1921!

     There are also Christians, true believers, who argue that the real turning date of the new millennium is 2003 or 2006, or was 1994 or 1997, depending on whose calendar you follow concerning the actual birth year of Jesus Christ. A review of history tells us that time, as we know it has changed. Early humankind counted moon cycles; some used obelisks casting shadows, water emptying from jars, or sand spilling from glass to glass to count time. During the course of time, months were added and day counts changed. So, it wasn't until Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) invented the pendulum clock that we had an accurate clock.

     The late 1800's brought about the global standardization of 24 time zones. Now, we measure time in picoseconds, making even the speed of light seemingly slow. So, this being the beginning of our 2000-year count isn't all that accurate.

     Why celebrate now? Why not? Look at what we are really celebrating. We are celebrating the life of Jesus who lived around 2000 years ago. His life was short, but his impact on history long. He hung around with, well, not the most popular members of society. In a culture that put women in the category of "unclean," they were his friends. Jesus spoke with women, not at them. He welcomed women as his followers. Children were at the very bottom of the social ladder - the rung for shoe scraping. Yet, Jesus said, "Let the children come to me." Outcasts were his dinner companions and he healed those rejected by society. Jesus Christ didn't just "talk the talk", he lived it.

      Science has taught us that the universe is a complex existence beyond the comprehension of BC humankind's imagination, and a challenge to the imaginations of those of us of year 2000 AD. It is a mystery even to scientists. God, the creator is awesome.

     Science has also brought the measurement of time recording history from word of mouth, to written, to video recorded, to instant e-mail. But the Word came from God and that Word spread throughout the world. Over a billion of today's people are Catholic, and nearly another billion are members of other Christian churches. One life - true God, true man - so affects the thinking and life choices of humankind that 2000-plus, or minus years later, His followers, making up the earthbound Body of Christ, have not yet peaked.

     In time, or out of the realm of time as we count it, God is alive and well, and with our gift of free choice, we embrace Him. So 2000 plus or minus years later we choose not to just "talk the talk", but to live it. We celebrate.

Denise Malmquist-Little teaches math, science, religion, and art at St. Cecilia School, SF.

  
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