CHRISTMAS NOVENA - Day 5: O Key of David

20th December: O Key of David

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.

Based on Isaiah 22:22, Isaiah 9:7 and Isaiah 42:7, the reference is to the sovereignty of God's Reign. That the throne shall have no end is a Messianic prophecy that, God will be established the Lord of history! Liberation of the oppressed and the fullness of life of all, is the sign of the Reign.

The symbol is the key to signify the authority that the Lord has, in creating, changing and structuring the whole history. It also signifies the perfect control that God has over time and space, life and being, but all these understood not in terms of domination but a love that creates and sustains.

Evil is real! Let us not deceive ourselves thinking it is imaginary, no it is real and the evil one is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. This is not a matter to be worried about, as long as we commit ourselves to the One key, which alone can open or close time, space or history - the Lord! Liberation, we think has to come from afar. But it is already given to us by the Lord, we just need to choose it! When we choose the key to liberation, we choose liberation!

The prayer is for liberation... to be led towards fullness of life that is the experience of the Reign on earth. It is also a commitment to work towards, to contribute one's might and mite, to choose with all our heart and our strength, the Lord, the key to fullness, towards establishing the Reign here and now!

The Reign - constant presence of God

THE WORD IN ADVENT

Third Saturday in Advent - December 20, 2025

Judges 13: 2-7, 24-25; Luke 1: 26-38

 

Like the light that shines all over and enters every corner, does God fill this creation and especially our lives. 'Emmanuel' is the best self-definition and natural description that God can have. And what we are about celebrate in a few days, is the highest of the manifestations of Godself to humanity - and a manifestation in the most understandable terms - God becoming human, God with us, and God as one of us. 

The promise and the fulfilment - that is what we reflect today in the Word. The Reign is about the promises of the Lord, we have reflected that more that a few times this season of Advent. The promise of God's closeness to us - I shall be with you, I shall never forsake you, my hand shall not leave you... these promises are realised, not just in history, but everyday today affirms the Word.

God does not say, call upon me and I shall come... for the Lord is all the time with us. This is the reason the prophets tell us: when the poor man cries, the Lord hears; when you call upong the Lord, the Lord answers... for the Lord is right there beside us. The feast of Christmas that we are preparing ourselves towards, is a fulfilment of that promise reminding us that the presence of the Lord is a constant in our lives. 

Hence, the Reign that we wish for is not something that has to enter from somewhere! It is right amidst us as Jesus reminded us... because it is practically the presence of God with us. Being there all the time with us, to wish the Reign comes is to wish that each one realises the presence of it and regard that presence making a difference in our daily lives.