December 20: O Clavis David, O Key of 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.

Last month as we celebrated the feast of Christ the King, we talked about the qualities of a good king, including using power responsibly and looking out for the needs of his subjects.

Reading the Gospels, we find example after example of Jesus setting people free: from physical ailments,  emotional demons, slavish obedience to peripheral laws, cultural expectations, alienation, hunger, fear, even death. This descendant of David and Son of God overcame every obstacle in order to demonstrate the depth of Divine Love for us. 

As Moses led the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt, Jesus breaks down the things that bind us, hold us captive, or make us feel dead inside. We know this to be true, and we yearn for it to be realized in our hearts, our homes, our communities and our world, today.

• As you pray today, what bad habit keeps you imprisoned?
  Ask Jesus to show you the way to freedom.