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.
O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel,
who opens and no man shuts,
who shuts and no man opens:
come, and lead forth the captive
who sits in the shadows from his prison.
Photo: The door leading to the monk's cells at a Trappist monastery. After compline the men ascend the stairs in silence as they return to cell for some sleep before rising at 3:00 AM for prayer.
Meditation:
The door to eternal life is never locked from the inside. As we read in scripture Jesus refers to himself as the gate, the door, the way, and other images of himself as the portal to eternal life. We lock our doors at night or when we are out of the house. We do so for our own safety. Jesus' door is always open. That too is for our own safety. Only we can lock that door from the outside when we refuse the gift of faith. We can unlock it through prayer.
Lagniappe:
Royal Choral Society: 'Since By Man Came Death' from Handel's Messiah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tViHs7MeTk
Prayer: Prayer for Generosity
O Lord, teach me to be generous
To serve you as you deserve
To give and not to count the cost
To fight and not to heed the wounds
To toil and not to seek for rest
To labor and not to ask for reward
Save that of knowing I do your holy will
St. Ignatius of Loyola
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