An Interview With Jesus

This morning, Christmas Day, I conducted a fictitious interview with Jesus, seeking answers to questions I and perhaps you have long wanted to ask:

"Good Morning Jesus. May I ask you a few questions?"

"Of course my son."

"Are you the savior?"

With a warm smile, Jesus replied, "Over the ages, many people have attributed that to me. But I am as I have always been, an enlightened spirit.

"My purpose was and is to help mankind to find enlightenment within themselves. But instead, in my name, mankind has often wrought destruction on each other. This deeply pains me.

"I lived a modest life, sharing lessons of enlightenment and ultimately I sacrificed my life hoping for the well-being of all mankind.

"Instead, my lessons of love, humility and non-violence have often been lost and in place of my message, I've been attributed with superpowers, like some sort of superhero.

"What I am is an enlightened spirit with a message for mankind. And there have been many other such enlightened spirits. In your time, they include Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Peace Pilgrim, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela.

"None of us was perfect, but our message was. Please encourage people not to worship us but to read our message and live by it."

"Thank you Jesus. I will."

I then asked another question. "Are you the son of God?"

"I am the son of God," he answered. And then with a smile and a twinkle in his eyes he added, "And you are the son of God, your neighbor is the son of God, and that homeless man is the son of God.

"Every man and woman is the son or daughter of God."

Fascinated by this remarkable man, I took a moment to quietly enjoy his company.

I then asked, "Did you rise from the dead?

He laughed aloud and replied, "Just as you see me now, I did rise from the dead.

"But then so will you, for we each live many lives as we strive to perfect ourselves."

"Jesus, may I ask you an odd question? This one has to do with race because over the ages, people have done horrific things to each other over race. May I ask what race you are?"

"As with all mankind, I am all races. In each lifetime my racial characteristics change. All race ever was was a means for personal growth so you would grow to recognize your brother or your sister in whatever form he or she took.

"And that's another thing," Jesus continued. "Your gender also varies with each life, and sometimes so does your sexuality. In this life, you are heterosexual, in the next life, you may be some other variation.

"The important thing is for you to recognize each other and to love one-another."

"May I ask one more question Jesus?"

"Certainly my son."

"What is the one true religion," I asked.

Jesus laughed heartily and deeply.

"There is no such thing," he answered after his laughter stopped. "There never has been."

Jesus then became serious. "I've the ages. I've seen mankind kill each other over such silliness. There are many religions because of mankind's ego and immaturity.

"Reality is that religion is very simple. It is about love, forgiveness, compassion, generosity, charity, patience and humility. It is about faith and it is about sharing.

And I will add, 'Do unto others as you would have done unto you' and you will be a religious person."

"Thank you Jesus. I promise to share your words and I am deeply grateful for your time this morning."

"You are welcome my son. Seek not me but God in everyone you meet. Treat each person as you would treat God and you will find fulfillment and purpose in this life."

Dick