December 2: "Because the Destruction of Death Was Being Worked Out"

The virginity of Mary and her giving birth eluded the ruler of this age, likewise also the death of the Lord--three mysteries of a cry which were done in the stillness of God.  How then was he revealed to the aeons?

A star shone in heaven
brighter than all the stars,
and its light was ineffable,
and its novelty caused astonishment;
all the other stars
together with sun and moon
became a chorus for the star,
and it outshone them all with its light;
and there was perplexity (as to) whence (came)
    this novelty (so) unlike them.
Thence was destroyed all magic,
and every bond vanished;
evil's ignorance was abolished,
the old kingdom perished,
God being revealed as human
to bring newness of eternal life,
and what had been prepared by God
    had its beginning;
hence all things were disturbed
because the destruction of death was being worked out.

--Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Ephesians, chapter 19

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

--John Donne, Holy Sonnet X