“Herod sought to see Jesus”
Our Lord is only seen in this world when he wills. What is surprising about that? Even at the resurrection it was only given to those of pure heart to see God. “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God” (Mt 5:8). How many persons who are blessed had he not already listed but even so he had not promised these the possibility of seeing God. So it those of pure heart will see God then certainly the others will not see him…; someone who has not wished to see God cannot see God.
For one doesn’t see God in a particular place but with a pure heart. The eyes of the body are not what seek God; he is not embraced with a look, nor reached by a touch, nor heard in conversation, nor recognized by his walk. One believes him absent and one sees him; he is present and one doesn’t see him. Besides this, the apostles themselves did not all see the Christ in him. That is why he said to them: “Have I been with you so long a time and still you do not know me?” (Jn 14:9). In effect, whoever has known “what is the length and the breadth, the height and the depth – the love of Christ that surpasses all understanding” (Eph 3:18-19), has also seen Christ, has also seen the Father. As for us, we do not know Christ according to the flesh (2Cor 5:16) but according to the Spirit. “The Spirit before our face, he is the Anointed of the Lord, the King” (cf. Lam 4:20). May he deign, in his mercy, to fill us with all the fullness of God that we may see him!
St. Thalassios the Libyan