Sunday 20 December 2009

O clavis David



O key of David and sceptre of Israel, what you open no one else can close again; what you close no one can open. O come to lead the captive from prison; free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

The Archangel Gabriel, speaking to Mary in Nazareth, explains that the Son of God : “…will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Lk1: 32-33). Invoking Jesus as the Key of David, we acknowledge that all power comes from him. The key is an ancient symbol of power, of duty of care and responsibility. The giving of a key to the victor after a siege meant that the person had authority over all. As in those days keys were very large objects, they were handed over by laying them on the shoulder of the person taking the office of authority, hence our phrase: shouldering responsibility etc… Christ is the bearer of this key that “…opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens.” (Rev 3: 7)
The house of David is a symbol of the Church and of the kingdom of heaven, it is only in and through Christ that we can belong to both. He has on his shoulders the key of David, the glorious cross which he faithfully carries, the key that opens paradise.
Advent reminds us that the bearer of this key is already with us to open the prison of sin and grant us freedom; as the antiphon says he will lead the captives free.
Christ has not appeared to condemn but to save us who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. He will lead us today to that freedom which restores our human dignity as persons created in the image of God. He has the key, he can make this happen if only we allow him.

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