O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness! Today we recall the fourth of the “O Antiphons” preserved by the Church as a particular way to prepare for Christmas. For each of seven days before Christmas a special antiphon for the Magnificat at Vespers was sung which concerned both the announcement of a title of the Messiah, and reflected an Old Testament prophecy about him. These antiphons began with the word “O” - thus “’O’ Antiphon.”
Today the title is “Key of David!” The 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!”
The prophecy is this from Isaiah: “I will place the Key of the House of David on His shoulder; when he opens, no one will shut, when he shuts, no one will open! His dominion is vast and forever peaceful!.”
The first reading today from the prophet Isaiah is about the sign of the virgin with child; something radically new and different was about to enter the world; something taking faith and God’s help to understand: a virgin with child was the perfect sign for such a two-edged reality!
The gospel passage relates how Jesus began to live in Mary’s womb, when the Holy Spirit overshadowed her - but not after heaven and earth stood still awaiting her reply to God’s invitation to be his mother! Out of that silence came Mary’s YES! And heaven descended to earth!
Let the Lord enter our hearts, our lives - at our YES! our cooperation with his plan!
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