Suffering With Joy

O Clavis David

December 20, 2009

O Clavis David et aceptrum domus Israel, qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit; veni et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel Who openist and no man shutteth: Who shuttest, and no man openeth; come, and lead the captive from prison, sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Isaiah 22:22: And I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder: and he shall open, and none shall shut: and he shall shut, and none shall open.

Isaiah 9:6: For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace.

Ps 106:13-14: Then they cried to the Lord in their need and he rescued them from their distress. He led them forth from darkness and gloom and broke their chains to pieces.

Jesus is the key who opens the door to the prison where we have been chained because of our sins.  The darkness of our intellect gets us into trouble again and again.  But the Key of David can unlock our hearts if we let Him, and we can flee the darkness and shadow of death to choose eternal life.  If we let Him – it is the meaning of free will – the right to choose without any constraint that which is good.  Jesus never forsakes us when we cry for mercy, when we open our hearts to Him.  Say “yes” to Love.

Tags: Advent, O Antiphons