Pilgrim's Perch

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.

The prophet Isaiah had said:

‘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)

and

‘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.’ (Isaiah 9:7)

then

‘…To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.’ (Isaiah 42:7)

Keys may be seen as symbols of authority and control. The authority is certainly here in the coming Messiah but the control is a two-way thing. If Christ’s followers will accept his wisdom and teaching Christ will open to them a new way of life and freedom, unlocking the bars and inhibitions which once held them captive.

O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem Gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; before you kings will shut their mouths, to you the nations will make their prayer: Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.

In the book of Isaiah we find the prophecy:

‘A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.’ (Isaiah 11:1)

and 

‘On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.’ (Isaiah 11:10)

Here, Jesus Christ is likened to a root; we get references to the Tree of Jesse, a family tree that leads, via King David, to the birth of Jesus. (Another of the Old Testament prophets, Micah, has foretold that the Messiah would come of David’s line and be born in David’s city, Bethlehem.) But we also see the image that Jesus will use when speaking to his followers, of their need to be rooted in him. He will teach that a sound tree will bear good fruit – and if his followers root themselves in him they, too, will bear good fruit. 

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

The second antiphon draws on the ancient title for God of ‘Lord.’ Reference to this is found in the book of the prophet Isaiah: 

‘For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our ruler, the Lord is our king; he will save us.’ (Isaiah 33:220)

and in the book of Exodus, which tells of a repressed people’s deliverance:

‘And the angel of the LORD appeared unto (Moses) in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.’

(Exodus 3:2)

Another passage says this:

‘And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.’ (Exodus 24:12)

The fiery bush symbolises the might of God – all powerful fire with the ability to destroy and yet remaining itself – a sign that the Lord Christ would be fully God but also fully human. He would share in the experiences, joys and disasters of human life but he would ultimately bring us all through the time of difficulty and trial to our true destiny, if we allow him to do so.

From the heights of the mountain Moses receives instruction from God, laws that will find new expression and teaching in the life of Jesus Christ.