Saturday, December 20, 2008

O Clavis David

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, et umbra mortis.

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;
you open and no one can shut;
you shut and no one can open:
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

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I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David;
he shall open, and no one shall shut;
he shall shut, and no one shall open.

(Isaiah 22.22)

His authority shall grow continually,
   and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
   He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
   from this time onwards and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

(Isaiah 9.7)

I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
   I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,
   a light to 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.

(Isaiah 42.6-7)

Come, Lord Jesus, Holy and Anointed One, and lead us out from darkness into your everlasting light…

2 comments:

St Edwards Blog said...

Such timing -you just published this I think and I am here after a long absence.

I started working and my time allowances have changed considerably. Please know that despite my absence in the comments, I try to read in the reader when I can.

This is beautiful - I so love the O Antiphons, they open me up.

I thought of you when I read this article earlier today.

Especially when I read the words "incarnation is already redemption."

What a thought St. Francis gives us with those words.

Pax and many Christmas prayers to you, to your family, friends and community and to ALL who read this blog.

Fran

Mike Farley said...

Wonderful article. Fr. Richard - I might have guessed! I don't think Franciscans are supposed to have other Franciscans as heroes, really, but I'd choose Rohr any day!