Music for Reign of Christ the King

 

Our hymns today remind us that “Christ the King” is about more than crowns and power. Our first hymn, “Jesus shall reign” remind us that human kingdoms have nothing that can compare with the world that is Christ’s domain. The offertory hymn “Fairest Lord Jesus” dates back to the 16^th century and barely refers to kingship, but rather expounds on the theme of the beauty of Christ and the Creation in an overflowing expression of praise. Our communion hymn is one that juxtaposes the King image with that of the humble Shepherd in a lovely paraphrase of Psalm 23.

In our last hymn, the call to “crown him with many crowns” is a simple and yet profound declaration that Christ is many things, and everything. He is Lord of all, to be crowned for many things that all add up to Him being Savior of the world. Each crown represents a different aspect of who Christ is – Lord of life, Lord of love, Lord of years, Lord of heaven, the Lamb upon the throne. Christ is King, Servant, Lamb, Shepherd, and we celebrate this all-encompassing, paradoxical nature of our Savior by crowning Him the Lord of all.

Brigid Coult

Solemn Mass takes place at St. James’ Anglican Church, Vancouver at 10:30 am every Sunday.