December 20: O Key of David

O Clavis David:

“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.”

Isaiah had prophesied, "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.” (22:22),

and “His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David’s throne, and over His kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.” (9:6).

Key Wielder, you are a face of The Christ.

I see you breaking into prison today. I hear your keys rattling. They are not the rattle of death, though they have sounded so in the past. They are the rattle of a familiar, of the one who comes "home" to unlock the door, and I am not afraid. The door is opened by the friend who has been given the spare key to the house. No need to knock.

So what if such a one, a powerful one, a liberator, walked into prison today. Walked into the cells of my friends. Walked into "solitude" to bring a message of unimaginable freedom. Beyond the bars, that is where we all want to be.

But which are stronger, bars of steel or invisible bars that lock us into isolation while barraged by all manner of voices and bodies assailing our eyes and ears and souls without the permission of the intimate who has earned our key?

Jailer! Chaplain! Come in! In this lock down in my heart, sit awhile. Lock me in your embrace of confrontation and comfort. Show me the freedom of your safety.