An examination of the Church's liturgy reveals great versatility in the presentation of content. Sometimes the texts reflect the purely historical, yet so vividly as to make the events seem current. At times the entire action pertains to the present, as grace is petitioned or proclaimed. Or our sights are lifted high, to the parousia, to heaven and judgment, with the future clearly scored. In doing so the liturgical texts leap directly from one area of reference to another, even within the same sentence.