by The Rev. Marianne Cordova-Breen | Special to the Courier

We are in the Christian Easter season. A season that fosters mixed emotions and can challenge our beliefs. “Christ” is not necessarily Jesus’ last name nor, I believe, is the second coming a single person. If the latter were true then we have already had a second coming, and a third and fourth. People like Ghandi, Mother Theresa, and Dr. Martin Luther King certainly exemplify the Christ. The term “Christ” means anointed one. In Christian tradition it means God incarnate in a human.

As a Religious Scientist, I believe this means that there is a Christ in each and every one of us because we are all made by God out of God substance. All creation comes from one divine source. All creation has God substance as its core essence. There is a story of a group of monks who were told that Christ lived among them but were not told who it was. From that moment on, all the monks treated each other as if they were the Christ.

For thousands of years people have looked on Jesus’ death as atonement for our sins. Jesus has been the scapegoat on which to pin all our failings. Yet, we all know that pinning our failings on scapegoats may fool some but is never the truth. Eventually we have to face up to our own deeds. When you think about it, neither prayer, nor Jesus’ death are/were for God. God doesn’t need our prayer and didn’t need Jesus to do what he did for his glory. Prayer, and the crucifixion, aren’t for atonement; they are for us to become aware of our oneness with spirit and know its unconditional love. They are to create an “at-one-ment” with God within.

Jesus’ whole life was about connection and inclusion. His death was about unconditional love, not bargaining for freedom. Getting crucified was horrific; it took major drama to get our attention. How often does it still take major drama to get our attention? Jesus’ resurrection demonstrated that “life goes on long after the living is done.” Life is eternal. Our souls, our God essence lives on, and it is alive today.

During this Lent and Easter season, I am to ask myself, who is my scapegoat? Is it my spouse, my neighbor, my boss, politicians? I know I can fall into the blame game easily. But if I remember that I am loved unconditionally and there is a Christ within me, I don’t need to blame anyone. If I remember that there is a Christ within those that trouble me, I can forgive with grace. So, my mission this month is to find the Christ in Claremont wherever I go.

Namaste.

The Rev. Marianne Cordova-Breen is an associate minister at the Claremont Center for Spiritual Living.