The Ascent

Gospel: Luke 9: 28-36

This account of the Transfiguration notes that Moses and Elijah were speaking with Jesus about his exodus atop the mountain.  Moses, of course, led the Israelite people in the exodus from slavery to freedom.  Elijah traversed the desert to arrive on Mount Carmel and then be lifted up to heaven in a fiery chariot.  All of these events represent the path of divinization each person has to undergo in order to arrive at enlightenment and salvation.

Jesus himself is the way or path we must take in achieving divinization.  He entered the desert and renounced all claims to power, influence, wealth, and fame.  He then undertook a ministry of service to others in healing people of their illness, liberating people from their demons, and nourishing people at table.  This path will lead to opposition from the world and ultimately death, but one that leads to the fiery chariot of a divinized resurrection.

Modern Christianity preaches a false path, one that says Jesus did all this for us so we do not have to endure it.  No.  Jesus endured all this to show us the way and the path we too must walk in order to achieve divinization.  We must enter the desert and renounce claims to power, influence, wealth, and fame.  We must take up a life of healing, liberating, and nourishing others.  We must face the opposition of the world.  That is what is meant when it is claimed that Jesus is the only way.