O Key of David

"O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel: you open and no one shuts: you shut and no one opens. Come and lead forth from his prison the captive sitting in darkenss and in the shadow of death." Key: a reminder of the keys of the kingdom given to Peter (cf. Matt 16:19), the power to forgive sins, the spiritual power given to the Church to open the door to the Kingdom of God though the sacrament of Baptism and through the nourishing graces of the other sacraments and her teaching. Also, a reminder of Jesus knocking at the door whose only doorknob is on the inside, awaiting our "permission" to enter (cf. Rev. 3:20). We pray that the door separating darkness from light, enslavement to bad habits and sin from goodness and kind deeds, death from eternal life, might be opened.
Today's Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Visitation story, shows the power of action and word...a simple visit, the meeting of two women in precarious and vulnerable situations, recognizing the gifts each was bearing and blessing God. We in our own weakness and precarious circimstances and be similar instruments and blessing and keys to doors that separate. May this final week of advent see us open as many doors as we can.
Bro. Rene