Eighty-nine years ago, in the
St. George Cathedral placed in the heart of Addis Ababa, Ras Tafari Makonnen
was crowned with the new name of Qadamawi Haile Selassie.
An unprecedented prophetic
event that attracted the attention of the nations of the world.
Few knew that that very
ceremony would have waken humanity from the sleep in which it had fallen.
Haile Selassie the First, a
direct descendant of the biblical kings David and Solomon, who grew up among
royal dignitaries and spiritual masters, had Himself a kind of knowledge
and wisdom that left completely astonished and surprised those who knew him.
Even though He was a very
humble, balanced and contained person, His name was wrapped up in fame, and
about Him people was talking from one border to the next across the Kingdom of
Ethiopia.
Since He was a little child,
He had created astonishment when he taught priests on spiritual matters and His
knowledge seemed to be like an endless well.
He had an awareness of such
depth that confirmed, in the memories of the elders, the prophecies that before
His birth announced the imminent arrival of a prodigal child.
The most astonishing thing
about Ras Tafari Makonnen was the attitude with which He addressed government
issues, managing imperial affairs with diligence and spiritual balance.
He handled political affairs
with royalty, grace, discipline, and above all with a deep spirit of compassion
and mercy.
This attitude was never seen before.
In the eyes of those close to
Him, He could only be compared to biblical kings like David, examples of divine
government and models of sovereigns who worked as the instrument of the Most
High.
Kings like Samuel and Natan, were
chosen to be the right hand of the Almighty on earth, and in this spirit they
ruled.
It was a type of sovereignty
and government that was a true divine mission, not by chance, they were anointed
with the holy oil of royalty.
This oil was evoking the
anointment of the Messiah whose illuminated sovereigns were anticipation.
On November 2nd 1930, Ethiopia
and the whole world witnessed the Coronation of the One who would be the last
ruler of the house of David.
Not by coincidence this was
taking place in Ethiopia, where Bible stories were so alive in the minds of the
population, and where the spirit of Christ was so present in the social
background.
In this ancient country the
personality of Haile Selassie The First, His actions and His immense compassion,
would soon have generated among the people the feeling that He himself was the
Messiah who returned in His Kingly characters.
On the other side of the
Globe, among those that Isaiah described as the " Islands of the sea",
some of the slaves who were deported to the new world, hearing the news of the
Coronation in Addis Ababa reopened their Bibles.
Doing so they received the
Revelation that the Messiah had returned with the new name exactly as He
himself had announced.
Thus the Rastafari Movement
was born and what we call the "New Creation" began.
We could extensively reason on
the Old and New Testament prophecies; we could also show many theological
references to confirm all this.
We could mention the Apostles,
the Cristian Fathers, the Rastafari Elders etc. Instead, we will remain on
observing what this holy day of Coronation represents for Ian’I Rastafari.
We have to keep in mind that
every divine action has a reflection and meaning for us human beings.
If we have a closer look to the
act of Coronation we see that it is a recognition of sovereignty, as a ceremony
it is an assignment of a title and represents elevation from one status to
another superior.
Ras Tafari Makonnen went in
fact from the status of Ras (head of the people) to the one of Negusa Nagast or
King of Kings.
Similarly, it has a meaning
for us mankind: with HIS Majesty Coronation we ourselves are crowned with a
new, more complete level of life, we could say a superior one in which we are
invested of the government of our lives and of this Creation.
We are the generation that
assisted the coming of the Christ Ruler, consequently we are called to rule.
The previous generation has
witnessed Christ as a master, a teacher.
That generation was a follower
one, a generation student of the Messiah.
Ian’I in this time witness the
sovereign Christ as sovereign ruler that wants us to help him in the government
of the ages to come.
This means that we must not
only be student but also live and behave as humble rulers, responsible for this
life.
We must feel within ourselves
the mission of taking care of this Creation in a new and more conscious way,
not living as followers anymore but as real protagonists of change.
Coronation makes us officially
"creators of this Creation".
Coronation is a fulfilment; it
marks the end of an age and the beginning of another.
It ends the waiting period in
which we were languishing for the saviour’s manifestation because humanity was
tired of suffering under the yoke of evil and injustice.
In 1930, the time of the
victory of the good over evil began, since then international dynamics were
overturned by the person and work of Haile Selassie The First and his example
On numerous occasions, He
shown that even in this century David would defeat Goliath, securing the
victory of good and justice.
In our lives, therefore,
Coronation is a constant warning and unceasing reminder that despite what
happens and how the battle may be hard, the Lion of the Judah Tribe has won.
He is the ruler forever
breaking the chains of physical and mental oppression.
This means that every righteous
mission that we take on will be successful!
Any challenge that puts us to
the test will be won if we act in accordance with the divine spirit and behaviour.
For if the King of Kings
assures us that victory is certain and He himself is the real and not
mythological example of this victory, then what can we fear? What can we worry
about?
His Majesty opens the New Creation,
which is the last and definitive era whose characteristic is in fact the
victory.
In the New Creation, the man
of God will have the benefit of working and living knowing that he has already won;
worries and tribulations will be overcome by the incessant memory of the
Coronation.
In moments of trial and
anguish, meditating on the salvific meaning of the Coronation, will bring man
comfort, confidence, and courage toward the future.
Coronation is the departure
from Egypt. Coronation is Daniel who, thanks to the divine spirit in him, makes
lions tame and they submit to him.
In our daily challenges, the
memory of Coronation sets us free, empowers us with strength and trust and
causes adverse events to submit to us.
Nothing good is impossible when
the King of Kings is on the Throne.
Accepting this reality and
dwelling in it by keeping it alive during times of difficulty, has an
invaluable power.
It is indeed one of the
greatest gifts reserved for those who have been called to consciously live this
New Creation.
Remaining focused on the
meaning of Coronation and maintaining it alive within Ian’I invests us with a new
energy that we did not even know it existed in us.
If before we were weaker and
insecure, now we know that we can draw on this new strength, it is inextinguishable,
renewed, and above all, forever present.
Haile Selassie The First is
the Earth Rightful Ruler.
He has perfectly embodied the
characteristics with which the Bible described the King Messiah.
He performed wonderful works
and actions.
But there is one thing that is
at the foundation of all His work and which is one of the greatest teachings he
could offer us.
Haile Selassie The First
taught us to live in a full and complete way.
He showed us that we have a
meaningful life.
In both His work and private
life, He has shown us how much potential we have as human beings and how much
it can bear fruit if cultivated well.
He has taught humanity to
overcome its limitations and to use all the resources the Creator has assigned
to us in order to make men incredible beings, so strong and capable at the same
time so spiritual and compassionate.
Haile Selassie The First showed
us resources we did not know we had, He taught us to work unceasingly for
results that we would never have imagined to be able to reach.
He gave us confidence, and
showed us the tools by which to build a benevolent and happy place around us.
He has handed us an ancient
knowledge, a balance between wisdom, discipline and mercy that is the key to
build a healthy and happy society.
HIS Majesty reminded us that
we are infinite and we tend to infinity when Babylon stress us with
insecurities and constantly reminds us of how weak we are.
As Babylon unfortunately had
us educated to live in hope, HIS Majesty has trained us to live in reality and
to realize our visions without fear as true creators of this Creation.
The King of Kings has
therefore given a fuller meaning to our existences.
His memory and His presence
within us keep alive an awareness that makes us happy, filling us with
confidence and reasserts us with the power of our hearts and minds.
This consciousness heals the
wounds and scraps the dust off us when we get up after falling.
It is the wonderful awareness
that we have a meaningful life.
Perfect Love
