BY SEAN NEAL EARNER

On Christmas Day was Caesar reborn,

On the Nativity of the Christ another kingly anointing was accomplished,

On the entrance of God’s Kingdom into the world, an Order here below was called out of the nothing of wandering kingdoms and scattered tribes.

The effectual words are poured forth with the oil of chrism:

 “To Charles, the most pious Augustus, crowned by God, the great and peace-giving Emperor, life and victory.”

As the choirs sung forth in praise,

As the people of the Rome according to the flesh gave forth a mighty shout,

The pope bowed down

Before the lord he himself had crowned.

And the man, the mere man Charles, was shocked

And wondered what type of greeting this could be.

One thought consoles on the heights of the mountain where the lightning plays:

He whose birth was hailed by those of low and high estate will not disdain the offering of scepter and sword.

“One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

How much shorter than a millennium had been the dormition of the empire of the land of the setting sun?

And yet for mortals it is like seeing Lazarus again,

wrapped in burial clothes and with the stench of decay,

Walking into the light and stammering bewildered greetings from beyond.

Too easily we despair of God’s eternal decree that nothing will be lost,

Not even in time, let alone in the time after time,

As long as what is mortal in the temporal is pierced through by the spear of sacraments.

Things that perish will come back, changed, transfigured, yet more like

themselves than at their own original birth.

Our true primordial form lies in our future,

with the new heavens and the new earth.

Just so with the empire of Julius and Augustus, resuscitated by baptism

From all its idols cleansed, all its altars to new rites dedicated,

all its stony hearts turned to cruciform flame.

Purified of pagan novelties,

The Rome of legions and laurels is called back

To the worship of Adam, now enlightened by the Tree,

To the covenant of Israel, now made with all peoples,

To the beginning,

When the Word was with God, and the Word was God,

Who shall dwell among us.