Christ and Tafari
By Norman Redington
The following remarks are from the perspective of the Orthodox Christianwing of the Rastafari movement and are not intended to show any disrespectfor those brethren who view His Majesty differently (e.g. the TwelveTribes).
When Ras Tafari became emperor of Ethiopia, he also became the Protectorof the _Bete Kristyan_, the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Church.Throughout his long reign he strove zealously to spread the message ofOrthodoxy, the ancient and original form of Christianity, into all thenations of the world. For this reason, the enemy besieged him withdifficulties and temptations, and three times sought to drive him from hisimperial throne. In the end, though, His Majesty triumphed over the enemythrough the strength which is signified by his Orthodox baptismal nameHAILE SELASSIE, Might of the Trinity.
His was a victory not of this world which passes away, and in which hewould seem to have lost -- his throne, his power, his dreams, his life. Itwas a victory of the Enduring World to which we will all someday berepatriated, the Real World where the Only Lord of Reality sits on Hiseverlasting throne.
In that world the righteous emperor now dwells, and there he intercedesbefore the Qedduse Selassie, the Three-and-One, by Whose unimaginablePower (_Haile_) he had reigned and Whom he had humbly striven all hisearthly life to serve. Yes, there before the Throne of JAH the emperorintercedes for all the suffering poor, of Africa and Jamaica, the USA andthe UK and every land of this suffering world. From there too he fightsfor us, fires his machine-gun of prayer at demons and fallen watchers,slashes through human ignorance with the cavalry-sabre of the Word.
We know that he does this because some who are not liars have beheld himin that world, reflecting the Sun in its power and glory. It is not to bewondered at that certain ones who saw this mistook the reflection for theSun itself. A monk of the Holy Mountain beheld Saint Paisius seated upon athrone in the heavenly mansions and was unable to endure the radiance ofhis face. Sure he was standing before God, the monk fell down to worship,but the angels corrected him: "No, this is only one of God's humbleservants, and for this glory you also were created."
Thus stands our defender the emperor Haile Selassie, king and martyr,entirely transfigured by the deifying Light of JAH. Some who have seen himhave overstood, whether quickly slowly. They too have taken up the Crosswhich the most noble emperor wore; they too have loved Him the most nobleemperor loved; they too have followed Him the most noble emperor calledGod, joining themselves to the One Orthodox Church which is from end toend of the universe.
Through their prayers and his may I who am unworthy and ignorantnonetheless chant a sound here each week of the next twelve, and may allwho read these words awaken to the wordsoundpower which is the Reason forreggae music.
Norman Redington
Back to Reggae