Cast Your Eyes On God

They say, ‘seeing is believing.’ When it comes to Our Lord, it has been more than two thousand years since our eyes have gazed upon His holy face. That puts us in the same position as many in the ancient world that desired to see God but could not. Yet, we still desire to see Him.

Today the Church commemorates the translation (that means relocation) of the Holy Napkin to Constantinople. The Holy Napkin is a miraculous image of Christ created when Christ whipped His face. You can read a brief story about it here. For centuries those who desired to see God were blessed to set their eyes upon His Holy Image on the cloth.

At that time, when the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him; but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them as Elijah did?” But he turned and rebuked them, and he said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of man came not to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went on to another village. As they were going along the road, he said to those who followed him, “All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” And he went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying towards Jerusalem.

Luke 9.51-57, 10.22-24, 13.22

Today’s Gospel lesson is a reminder than many were blessed to see Christ with their physical eyes. Many could not, but were blessed nonetheless, such as the Abgar. He had to settle for a Holy Icon of Christ. We are blessed with many holy images of Christ. They all serve the same purpose. We are blessed with faith when we see ‘evidence’ of God.

Evidence? They say ‘seeing is believing’ so why shouldn’t the same hold true for our faith? Some might say that it is just some painting, but Abgar believed the miracle. What precludes people today from believing when they see Holy Icons? What’s the difference?

Nobody can believe God except those to whom God reveals Himself. That truth is also in today’s Gospel lesson. That is why God chooses to use holy icons as miracles so often. Whether icons survive destruction without reason, or if they ‘weep’ oil tears, there are miracle signs that God is working through them. It only requires a welcome heart to accept the evidence. That part comes from God.

Our part is to set our eyes and hearts on the Lord like Abgar. When we believe, miracles happen. People are saved. Faith is strengthened. Hearts are softened. Love is expressed, all because we set our eyes of God.