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 darkness and in the shadow of death."
This antiphon again opens our minds futher to understand and appreciate the great Mystery we are about to celebrate. It goes deeper than the lovely story of the stable and manger. It moves us to the Mystery of our redemption.
The image of the key and the locked door can be seen in two ways. In the book of Revelation we read: "The Holy One, the true,/ who holds the key of David,/ who opens and no one shall close,/ who closes and no one shall open, says this: 'Behold, I have left an open door before you, which no one can close.' (Rev 3:7-8.) The door to the Holy of Holies was unlocked on occasion for one of the high priests who would be chosen to enter and give sacrifice. Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, we read in Luke 1: 5-26, was the chosen priest when he received the message about the conception and birth of his son. Now with the coming of Jesus, the Key, the door to the Holy of Holies, the Kingdom of God, of Grace, is open all the time. All who believe in Jesus are invited to enter.
This Key also opens the door to our enslavement to sin, our imprisonment in fear, our subjection to death. We are now enabled to move beyond these and live in freedom, as children of God. Salvation is now possible for us, because God has become one of us and opened to doors to Paradise for us. No wonder the heavens were filled with angels proclaiming the glory of God.
We sing "O come let us adore him, Christ, the Lord" because he is our God and Savior.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Bro. Rene