Dec 20 - 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.

Yesterday we heard about the flower that would shoot forth from Jesse. Today's antiphon speaks about Jesse's son, David who became the greatest king of the Chosen People. Just as David was anointed King of the people, the messiah would be anointed our Everlasting King.

Many of the Jewish people that did not accept Jesus as the messiah did so because they were expecting a military ruler in the manner of David. They were anxiously awaiting to be returned to the first place in the land they inhabited.

But our God chose to come in a different way. Not in regal splendor, but in the simplest, humblest way imaginable. He was born among farm animals, his mom and dad huddled together with sheep and donkeys and maybe a cow or two around them. He was placed in the animal's feeding trough - that was his crib.

Praised be you, Christ our King - thank you for wearing not the golden crown of David, but rather the crown of thorns - the different crown, the crown that brought salvation to all the people -- chosen or not.