One Crown

Coronations are magnificent. The formality and splendor bear witness and impart legitimacy to the ascension of a sovereign to the throne. Typically, the ceremony includes a coronation oath, anointment, investiture, enthronement, and homage. The custom whereby the Holy Roman emperor was crowned by the pope dates from the coronation of Charlemagne on Christmas Day, 800.  Certainly, the presence of the pope indicated a divine bestowing of the power to rule the kingdom. This regal tradition was of tremendous significance as there was little to differ between the authority to be reckoned with either from the Church or the King. Power is ordained from a higher authority. Unlike every other coronation, there was one in which a crown was not necessary nor was there any power greater able to endow anything more, yet a crown was given and received.

 

“Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne”. The opening verse of this popular hymn by Matthew Bridges in 1852 reflects a yearning by Christians to glorify their Lord and Savior. The hymn goes on to crown him eight times with titles like “Lord of Life” ,”Lord of Peace” and “Lord of Love”. While these titles and crowns are appropriate, the Scripture passages describing Jesus ruling in all His power in John’s visions as described in the Book of Revelation never mention His wearing a crown even though His attire is given in vivid detail.  Crowns are laid down before the Lord by twenty four elders in worship however, The King of Kings radiates splendor and might and needs no such symbol.

 

God is Love. The title of Pope Benedict’s first encyclical gives insight upon why the Almighty would accept a crown. “In His death on the cross, Jesus, giving Himself to raise and save mankind, expressed love in its most sublime form.” Inconceivable by human standards, the Lord of Lords who sits at a white throne with even the Earth and sky fleeing His presence and judging the living and the dead by their conduct on the last day does submit to His coronation.

 

The pageantry is a ceremony alive with sights, sounds, scents, tastes and most of all, tactile sensations exquisitely applied. A cohort of Roman soldiers do the honors as they represent all of mankind; everyone. Anointed by flagellation rendering open wounds and blood, investiture by mockery, ridicule and spit and coronation with a woven cap of piercing thorns, The Lamb of God accepts His one and only crown of love as an integral part of His kingdom.

 

Reviews

[Ferg]

Fitting piece for Easter. It feels very informational to me, but I do not feel the passion in this piece. You are telling us about the facts of the crown, but not the indescribable significance of it on a personal level. I remember the rendering of this in "The Passion of the Christ" and I recall being speechless and overcome with emotion after the movie........if your intent was to inform, you have done that well. If your intent was to inspire by the story, it might need a bit more personal edge to it......Overall well-written though.

[Cherrie Palmer]

From the very first "let there be", Christ was "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.. and became flesh. That we could find salvation. Beautiful story James!

[Gandré]

I say, love is god. Exactly the opposite. I say, everybody deserves a crown. Nothing is better than God. We are God. We are divine. God means, to love everything around us, also the gray stones, the ants and insects and the blue sky. I thought I make you smile with this poem. I think, creating the hierarchy and creating categories was s the beginning of our misery on earth.
Thank you for submitting to my contest. wonderful write.


Bring hither the pink and purple columbine,

With gillyflowers:

Bring coronation, and sops in wine,

Worn of paramours.

Strew me the ground with daffadowndillies,

And cowslips, and kingcups, and loved lilies.

Bring hither the pink and purple columbine,

With gillyflowers:

Bring coronation, and sops in wine,

Worn of paramours.

Strew me the ground with daffadowndillies,

And cowslips, and kingcups, and loved lilies.

Bring hither the pink and purple columbine,

With gillyflowers:

Bring coronation, and sops in wine,

Worn of paramours.

Strew me the ground with daffadowndillies,

And cowslips, and kingcups, and loved lilies.

Edmund Spenser 1552-99
English poet
The Shepherd's Calendar  (1579) l. 136