O Clavis David : O Key of David
December 20
READER
O Key of David and Scepter of the House of Israel, You open and no one can close, You close and no one can open: Come and rescue the prisoners who are in darkness and the shadow of death.
PREACHER
Is there anyone here who feels that he has been locked out of the House of Life, so that he cannot enter the peace and joy within? Is every door of opportunity locked tight against her so that she cannot open it—even the door to God? Then we say to that person, “Brother, Sister, take heart! Look! Here is the Key who opens His heavenly home to you. Here is the Door, enter through Him and be saved! His name is Emmanuel. He is God-with-us and He is with you, too. So rejoice and sing:”
PEOPLE
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!
Shawn Ethridge March 12, 2015
“Crux Christi clavis Paradisi” — the Cross of Christ is the Key to Paradise (John of Damascus)