The full Christian story is saying that Jesus died, and Christ “arose”—yes, still as Jesus, but now also as the Corporate Personality who includes and reveals all of creation in its full purpose and goal.
—Richard Rohr, The Universal Christ
Last month I attended the Universal Christ conference held by the Center for Action and Contemplation. During this Eastertide, I want to share some of the wisdom and insights I gleaned from being part of that event. The Easter season feels like the right time to talk about a resurrection that was also transformation, which Richard outlines in his newest book and its Companion Guide, which I was honored to edit.
Christ is, and always has been, part of the eternal Trinity. The human Jesus and the eternal Christ were in unity in that one body during Jesus’ time on earth. The really good news is that we all are part of the Christ in that way. As Richard says, “He is indeed ‘the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,’ as Hebrews puts it (12:2), modeling the human journey rather perfectly.”[1]
Does that seem outlandish? Does that seem impossible? We are called to recognize that the divine dwells in every thing: every flower that blooms so beautifully this time of year, every human we meet, every animal we love, and even those animals we find more pesky than perfect. The divine also dwells in you and in me. Dare we believe it—and live accordingly?
This is an audacious claim, and yet, the more I live with this idea and take it to prayer, the more it truly feels right. I think about every piece of art I’ve ever created. A part of me lives on in it. A part of me remains embedded in everything I’ve written, including all these blog posts. Why would it not be the same for our Creator?
Richard also says, “God loves things by becoming them.”[2] This means it’s an ongoing process. We are infused with God from the very moment of our creation. We are connected with the Trinity, and the whole of creation, through an ongoing love, made tangible through the gift of the Holy Spirit. God becomes us as we become God.
How’s that for an Easter message? If we believe this, it’s impossible to feel alone or abandoned in our many crucifixions and deaths, large and small. Christ is with us in each of them. It’s also impossible to stay dead, because in Christ we all rise. Every morning is a resurrection and every challenge is an opportunity. Easter never ends.
Can you look within yourself and sense Christ? Can you believe in this truly good news? Can you live this resurrection?
During Eastertide, I share some of the wisdom and insights I gleaned from the recent Universal Christ conference: a resurrection that’s also transformation.
[1] Richard Rohr, The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe (New York: Convergent, 2019), 27.
[2] Rohr, The Universal Christ, 113.
