All Things in a State of Tumult

'Now the virginity of Mary was hidden from the prince of this world, as was also her offspring, and the death of the Lord; three mysteries of renown, which were wrought in silence by God. How, then, was He manifested to the world?A star shone forth in heaven above all the other stars, the light of which was inexpressible, while its novelty struck men with astonishment. And all the rest of the stars, with the sun and moon, formed a chorus to this star, and its light was exceedingly great above them all. And there was agitation felt as to whence this new spectacle came, so unlike to everything else [in the heavens]. Hence every kind of magic was destroyed, and every bond of wickedness disappeared; ignorance was removed, and the old kingdom abolished, God Himself being manifested in human form for the renewal of eternal life. And now that took a beginning which had been prepared by God. Henceforth all things were in a state of tumult, because He meditated the abolition of death.'

St. Ignatius, Epistle to the Ephesians, par. 19

Today the old order of corruption is done away with. Today the world, which we have turned upside down and declared to be right, is turned back. The revolution of heaven against hell, to borrow G. K. Chesterton's words, is joined. Our Saviour, our Champion against our dark enemy, has come, in the most unlikely of ways. Our God, our Saviour, has become man, and is born of the Virgin today, in a dirty cave filled with animals. Herod trembles and fears, and rightly: the old is about to be burnt up. This baby will raze the ruins and send kingdoms crashing down. Dawn is breaking. This is the end. This is the beginning. Our God is come; the silence is broken by a newborn's cries. The abolition of death is upon us.

'Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord.'

Zechariah 2:10