O Clavis David

Happy Sunday! Christmas is this week. I hope you take a deep breath today before the last few days of zaniness.

You may wonder why I have included the Latin. I promise there is a reason, but Uncle Ken appreciates the chance to brush up on the Latin he learned long, long ago. Here's the O Antiphon for December 20:

O clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel: qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris.

In English:

O key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens; come, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.

While it sounds a little grim, the message is important. Christ does something for us that nothing else can. No person, no activity, no amount of wealth, no material thing can fill the role in our life that Christ fills. But what amazing things He does for us! Christ comes to save us from death and eternal damnation.

While the holiday season brings great joy and happiness, it can also remind us of loved ones who aren't with us. My prayer for you today is that in the moments of sadness that inevitably come this Christmas, you are comforted by the promise of Christ's love and the eternal salvation He bought for us on the cross.

To close, the relevant verse from O Come O Come Emmanuel:

O come, thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.