December 20, 2025
The Great ``O'' Antiphons
Isaiah 22:22
12/20/2025
22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the
house of David. He shall open, and none shall
shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
(ESV)
The great ``O'' Antiphon for the twentieth of December comes
from Isaiah, the twenty-second chapter. ``And I will place on
his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and
none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.'' Saint
John also uses this title in Revelations: ``And to the angel of
the church in Philadelphia write: `The words of the holy one, the
true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will
shut, who shuts and no one opens.'''[1]
O Key of David and scepter of the house of
Israel, You open and no one can close, You
close and no one can | open:*
Come and rescue the prisoners who are in
darkness and the shad- | ow of death.
Saint Paul, when he wrote his letter to the Ephesians, was
in prison. Full well he knew the restraints, the darkness, and
the despair of being held against his will. Therefore, he could
easily foresee the day when Christ Jesus would return to lead the
prisoners from the depths of the dungeon into the light of day.
``Therefore it says, `When he ascended on high he led a host of
captives, and he gave gifts to men.'''[2]
May our Lord grant us hope, knowing we soon will be
delivered from the chains of our sin. Amen.
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1. Revelation 3:7 (ESV)
2. Ephesians 4:8 (ESV)