Advent Daybook 20: O Key of David, come!
This week we are adoring Jesus by praying the prophetic names of the O Antiphons. Read this post for an overview.
Pray: O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel, controlling at your will the gate of heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.
Look: The Judgement Day, Aaron Douglas - source
Listen: O Holy Night, The Joyous Voices - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube
Read: Isaiah 22:22-23; 42:6-7; Revelation 3:7, 11-12; Matthew 16:13-19; Isaiah 9:6-7
"And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father's house."
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'I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.'"
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“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
... I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.'"
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Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
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"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."
Sing the fourth verse of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel as today's prayer:
O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Do: Make space for forgiveness, mercy, and justice. What door between you and another person or group of people seems locked shut with no key?
Choose one person (or group of people) to forgive, and to release from your expectation of apology. If appropriate, write them a note, passing the peace of Christ through a simple few words.
In prayer, entrust your need for justice, reconciliation, and restitution to the governance of the Prince of Peace. Keep in mind, as you pray, that justice and reconciliation are valid desires and legitimate human needs. Tell God what you need God to provide to fill the gaps of other people's abuse, neglect, betrayal, or rejection. Ask God to provide you abundant healing and love in your relationships.
Make space for the adoration of our God
You might also enjoy: O Clavis, Malcolm Guite's sonnet for today's Advent antiphon. I highly recommend listening to the poet-priest read to you himself. Scroll toward the bottom of the post for the link and the recording!
For an introduction read this post: Advent Daybook Explained. You can see previous Advent daybook 2018 posts here.
* Listen to my entire playlist on Spotify: Advent 2019. Add it to your account by clicking ‘Follow.’
** Sunday Scripture readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary (Year A). Daily Scripture readings are taken from the Book of Common Prayer (Year 2).