"To see God means having a personal relationship with him. This requires looking deep within our hearts and making space for him; as Saint Augustine put it: “You were more inward to me than my most inward part” (Confessions, III, 6, 11). Yet often our hearts are slow and foolish, like those of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, who at first failed to recognize Jesus by their side. To see God, then, requires a process of purification, whereby our hearts are freed from the sin which blinds us to his presence. This entails renouncing evil and allowing the Holy Spirit to instruct and guide us. A further aspect to seeing God is recognizing him in creation, in the Church’s sacraments, and in our brothers and sisters, especially the poorest and most in need. If we let God purify our hearts he will lead us ultimately to the beatific vision where we will enjoy the fullness of joy and peace in the Kingdom of Heaven." (Pope Francis)
Do you want to see God face to face one day? Of course we do. But to be given that gift, we must begin and continue the process here and now. How can we see God if our eyes are blinded by habitual sin? Even in these last days of Lent we are called to renounce sin and return to the Lord with our whole heart. Otherwise, how can we experience the Risen Lord and see the glimpse of our own blessedness with him? God desires to remove the scales from our eyes. But like those in the Gospel we need to go to Jesus and say with a repentant heart: Lord, that I may see.
Do you want to see God face to face one day? Of course we do. But to be given that gift, we must begin and continue the process here and now. How can we see God if our eyes are blinded by habitual sin? Even in these last days of Lent we are called to renounce sin and return to the Lord with our whole heart. Otherwise, how can we experience the Risen Lord and see the glimpse of our own blessedness with him? God desires to remove the scales from our eyes. But like those in the Gospel we need to go to Jesus and say with a repentant heart: Lord, that I may see.
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