There is a strange phrase in the Gospel today that occurs as Peter, James and John are witnessing the transfiguration of Christ on the Mountain: “And behold, two men were conversing with Him, Moses and Elijah who appeared in glory and spoke of His exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.” In the Book of Exodus, Moses leads his people out of enslavement to Egypt and into the Promised Land. What is Jesus leading His people out of? Who are we enslaved to? What is the promised Land that Jesus is leading us towards?
Jesus enters into the city of Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover with His disciples: “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:15) The Passover meal is something that Jesus has been looking forward to for a long time. The Eucharist is the means by which He will unite His disciples to Himself so that they have the nourishment they will need to make it through the desert of this life to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
However, instead of sacrificing a Lamb for the Passover meal, Jesus is going to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is going to offer up His Body and His Blood. After the Passover meal, as Moses led the people of out slavery to Egypt, Jesus will lead His disciples out of slavery to Satan. And just as Moses led his people through the Red Sea to freedom, Jesus will lead His disciples through suffering and death to the Resurrection. The promised land that Jesus is leading us to is Heaven, and it is the exodus that Jesus will accomplish in Jerusalem. It the exodus we participate in every time we celebrate the Mass together.