The young man who could see, hear, touch, and speak to Jesus "went away sad, for he had many possessions" (Mk 10:22). In contrast, the people to whom the first letter of Peter was addressed never saw Jesus, but rejoiced with inexpressible joy because they were achieving faith's goal, their salvation (1 Pt 1:8-9). The one who saw Jesus was sad; the ones who never saw Him rejoiced in Him with inexpressible joy.

Clearly, our joy does not depend on seeing Jesus physically, but on believing in Him. Jesus said: "Blest are they who have not seen and have believed" (Jn 20:29). "We walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7). "Faith is confident assurance concerning what we hope for, and conviction about things we do not see" (Heb 11:1). "In hope we were saved. But hope is not hope if its object is seen; how is it possible for one to hope for what he sees?" (Rm 8:24) "We do not fix our gaze on what is seen but on what is unseen. What is seen is transitory; what is unseen lasts forever" (2 Cor 4:18).

Jesus is "the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords Who alone has immortality and Who dwells in unapproachable light, Whom no human being has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and everlasting rule! Amen" (1 Tm 6:15-16).

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 9, 2009

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