Often we read about a saint who was able to see God in a dream or vision, and how it radically changed their life.
When we read about such stories, we may want to have a similar experience, either seeing God with our eyes, or feeling his presence.
Spiritually speaking, this is possible and available to anyone, but the requirements for such an encounter are difficult to achieve.
An open heart, detached from sin
St. Theophilus of Antioch wrote in a book addressed to Autolycus about what we need to do to see God:
God is seen by those who have the capacity to see him, provided that they keep the eyes of their mind open.
This might seem like a simple statement, but it comes with a lot of connected issues. St. Theophilus explains how sin can darken our capacity to see God:
All have eyes, but some have eyes that are shrouded in darkness, unable to see the light of the sun. Because the blind cannot see it, it does not follow that the sun does not shine. The blind must trace the cause back to themselves and their eyes. In the same way, you have eyes in your mind that are shrouded in darkness because of your sins and evil deeds.
St. Theophilus provides a powerful image, one that can help us in our spiritual life. In a certain sense it is not that God is "invisible" and that he makes himself visible to certain people.
What really happens is that we need to take off our blindfold and see God who is standing right in front of us. We can't see what we are not open to seeing. If our spiritual eyes are blinded by our habitual sins, we won't be able to see anything.
St. Theophilus illustrates this further, "A person's soul should be clean, like a mirror reflecting light. If there is rust on the mirror his face cannot be seen in it. In the same way, no one who has sin within him can see God."
The good news is that we can cleanse our soul through the sacrament of confession received worthily, thus increasing our capacity for God.
Once we are truly ready to see, hear or feel God's presence, the blindfold will be taken off and we will see the one we love.
