O Key of David,
opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!

The key and scepter are ancient symbols of royalty and authority. Christ, the anointed one, descends from the house of David and is possessor of the kingdom. Jesus himself drew the comparison between the kingship of David and that of the coming reign of God. All power and authority were given to Christ after the resurrection, and he entrusted this power to “bind and to loose” to Peter and the ministers of his church. As a priestly people, this is our work, our mission.