Theosis is a core concept in Christian mysticism, but it is a concept that we do not often talk about in the Roman Church. It is a topic that is far more commonly discussed in many of the Eastern Catholic Churches.
In the Roman Church, we tend to use words like sanctification, which are intended to represent the same concept, but are often watered down to the point where they fall short of what theosis truly is and what it means to the life of a Christian.
I believe Jesus gives us a perfect phrase to ponder what theosis looks like and give us inspiration to continue to deepen a transformative relationship with God.
At the end of our Gospel reading, Jesus said, “I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.”
Ultimately, that is a statement from a state of perfect theosis. We have a name for this perfect theosis. We call it the hyperstatic union, the human nature of the son of Mary and the divine nature of the Son of God in perfect union within the divine person of Jesus Christ.
Of course, none of us are a divine person, like Jesus is. At the same time, we are called to reach the heights of the Christian life by bringing our human nature into full union with the divine nature…to become partakers of the divine nature, as Saint Peter said in his second letter.
When Jesus says, “I am from him”, He is referring to the fact that He shares the same essence with the Father, or as we say in the creed, consubstantial with the Father.
In our human nature, we cannot make that claim in its fullest sense. Regardless, we are made in His image and likeness. As we live the sacramental life of the Catholic Church more thoroughly, we can deepen that transformative relationship with God. In the process, we begin to participate more deeply in the “from-ness” that Jesus speaks of.
When Jesus says, “I know him”, He is not referring to an intellectual or a factual knowledge. Rather, he is again referring to the hyperstatic union.
We see glimpses of this throughout the Gospel, such as when Jesus said, “not my will but Thy will be done” in the Gospel of Luke.
Still the reality of truly knowing Him is much deeper than mere words can convey. The level of deferential love that is continually manifested between God the Father and God the Son leaves absolutely no room for any form of selfishness or even self will.
Through theosis we begin to understand God not as a concept, but rather through an experience of perfect love. The goal of theosis is to move beyond mere knowledge of God to inhabiting the life of God.
When Jesus says, “He sent me”, He is reminding us that Christianity is not a private affair, nor is it just a “me and Jesus personal relationship” as we often hear in non-Catholic circles.
In order to become a greater partaker in the divine nature, we must become a greater conduit of grace to the world around us. We must allow the Holy Spirit to work through us, in all our affairs.
Ultimately, this is our call at every Mass. “Ite, missa est," which translates to "Go, it is sent"; or, “Go forth, the Mass has ended”, as I will say in a few minutes.
At that point, from a certain perspective, you will have been deified by the sacraments, particularly, the Eucharist (assuming you received in a state of grace, with the correct disposition, and with the correct intention).
Go forth, be Christ to the world because through theosis, the Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
Thanks be to God!
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