What the eye cannot see

General idea

His Holiness Pope Shenouda speaks about the meaning of the verse “what no eye has seen and what no ear has heard…” and explains that what is meant is the glory of God eternal and that which is above our senses and the considerations of this world; i.e., the true enjoyment in eternity is to behold the face of God.

Illustrative examples from Scripture

The Pope cites Thomas’s experience and the testimony of the Resurrection, and the stories of the Fathers and Prophets of God (Noah, Abraham, Elijah, Joseph, David, Jacob) who believed what they did not see and God’s promises were fulfilled for them or they obtained miracles as proof that faith goes beyond the senses.

The sacraments and holiness as means to perceive the spiritual

He clarifies that the holy mysteries and rites are unseen graces accepted by faith, and that holiness and the “spiritual eye” are conditions for a person to behold God; spiritual practices prepare the spiritual senses to perceive glory.

What is seen in heaven — wondrous things

He mentions that in eternity the believers will see what no eye has ever seen: the angels, the cherubim and seraphim, the processions of the saints, the heavenly Jerusalem, and hymns and canticles never heard before — things radiant and beyond human conception.

Seeing the pledges and visions

He probes the “earnests” (pledges) of a lofty vision that some prophets and saints saw (such as Stephen, John, and Paul) as preludes to what is coming, and that these divine breathings are sometimes given as preparation for the eternal glory.

The call and spiritual training

The Pope calls for training the soul to believe in what is not seen, and that a person occupied only with material things will find it difficult to perceive spiritualities; therefore one must train the spiritual senses by prayer and holiness so that heavenly earnests may be counted for him.

Hope, assurance, and practical outcome

The spiritual conclusion urges longing to meet God and working in virtues and mysteries as the way to open the spiritual eye, reminding that the Incarnation and the Resurrection will complete this vision with glorified bodies that see what current senses cannot comprehend.

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