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 bring forth out of prison the captive who sits in darkness and the shadow of death.

Drawn from Is 22:22, this passage recounts how the king had just appointed Eliakim as Master of the King’s Palace in place of Shebna who was happily feathering his nest there. Eliakim was invested with Shebna’s robe, girded with his sash, and entrusted with his authority. The key of his Office was solemnly laid on his shoulders perhaps signifying the burdens of his new office (Is 9:6). Opening and closing the king’s doors was one of his functions which takes me back to my novitiate days when I was responsible for opening and closing the large church doors in Stanbrook, Callow End for the Community to process through at Mass and Office. A beautifully made key was always inserted in the lock of the great enclosure door, from the inside only. There was no handle on the outside, and a postulant entering the monastery had to knock three times for it to be opened.

O Come Thou Key of David, come and open wide our heav’nly home, make safe the way that leads on high… (O Come, O Come Emmanuel).

Eliakim was to be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the House of Judah and he alone decided who could be admitted to the king’s service and for whom the treasury could be opened.

Here is the message of the holy and faithful one who has the key of David, so that when he opens, none can shut, and when he shuts, none can open. (Rev 3:7).

The government of the Church, the Cross is being laid on Christ’s shoulders, signifying a key, a kind of investiture by which the supreme office of Saviour was to unlock the gates of Hell and…

…bring forth the captive who sits in darkness and the shadow of death.

He has absolute power to open the treasures of his word, communicating his grace, wisdom and knowledge and opening or shutting the door to his house to whomsoever he thinks fit. Initially, the king in Eliakim’s time would have responsibility for the key but it is delegated to the Master of the King’s palace. Just as a Rabbi is given a key when being admitted to his office, Jesus delegated such responsibility to Peter and his successors, (Mt 16:19). Thus, access to the Kingdom of heaven is opened…or closed accordingly.

Sr Julian

Calligraphy by Dame Martha Van Overbeke OSB
Text and artwork ©Stanbrook Abbey2024