We long to see God's face, but as Saint Peter Chrysologus reminds us, how can our "narrow human vision apprehend God, whom the whole world cannot
contain?" Still we are filled with yearning, we have come to know and understand that nothing else, nothing less than Christ Jesus himself can satisfy the desire of our hearts. Peter Chrysologus continues:
But the law of love is not concerned with what will be, what ought to
be, what can be. Love does not reflect; it is unreasonable and knows no
moderation. Love refuses to be consoled when its goal proves impossible, despises
all hindrances to the attainment of its object. Love destroys the lover if he
cannot obtain what he loves; love follows its own promptings, and does not
think of right and wrong. Love inflames desire which impels it toward things
that are forbidden. But why continue? It is intolerable for love not to see the object of its longing.
That is why whatever reward they merited was nothing to the saints if they
could not see the Lord. A love that desires to see God may not have
reasonableness on its side, but it is the evidence of filial love. It gave
Moses the temerity to say: If I have found favor in your eyes, show me your
face. It inspired the psalmist to make the same prayer: Show me your face. Even
the pagans made their images for this purpose: they wanted actually to see what
they mistakenly revered.
In Christ our hope, our longing will never ever be disappointed.
