Who Has Seen God?

Jesus walking on the Water - Gustave Doré - 1865(1 John 4:11-18; Psalm 72:1-2, 10, 12-13; Mark 6:45-52)

Every so often Sacred Scripture throws me a curveball, forcing me to really think about what’s being said. Today’s readings offer one such example. The reading from the First Letter of John begins: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.” The first and last sentences are in keeping with my understanding of Catholic teachings . . . but hiding in there is a sentence that caused me to do a double-take.

“No one has ever seen God”? Wait . . . we definitely believe Jesus is God, and lots of people saw Jesus during his lifetime; doesn’t that count? What’s going on?

My Bible includes some cross references where a similar sentiment is echoed: John 1:18 (“No one has ever seen God. The only son God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.”) and 1 Timothy 6:16 (“. . . the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see”).

Okay; there are a few things here that I can see. It seems pretty clear to me that they’re probably talking about God the Father in these instances, which would be accurate. Not even Moses saw God; although he talked to the LORD “face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:10) – meaning in a conversational manner – the Scripture is clear that he didn’t really see God’s face (see Exodus 33:18-23).

I also understand that it took a few centuries for mortal minds to fully wrap around the idea of the Trinity, even though it’s clearly in the Gospels (see, for example, Matthew 28:19). So it’s understandable that they say things that seem a bit askew to modern ears.

And yet . . . is there more wisdom to be gleaned here?

Look at today’s Gospel selection from Mark. It talks about how Jesus walked on water after the miracle of feeding the five thousand. “But at once he spoke with them, ‘Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!’ He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.”

Actually, Christ’s answer of “It is I” is literally translated as “I am,” which points to the divine revelation found – among other places – in Exodus 3:14 (“God replied, ‘I am who am,’ Then he added, ‘This is what you shall tell the Israelites: IAM sent me to you.'”).

Now, look at the last two sentences from Mark: “They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.” What did they not understand? Why were their hearts hardened?

Simply put, they didn’t understand the signs of Christ’s divinity. Their hearts were hardened to the truth that was before them: That Jesus was God.

If you were walking along the street two thousand years ago and saw Jesus, you would not immediately know he was God. You would not “see” him. Similarly, if a nonbeliever saw the Eucharist, he would not “see” Christ, even though we know Scripture and Tradition clearly indicate he is physically there with us during that Sacrament.

And even if we believe we are practicing Catholics, in our hearts, are we sure we are “seeing” Christ? About half of American Catholics don’t believe that – during Communion – the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus. (I can’t find statistics worldwide, but I suspect there are a large number of Catholics across the globe who don’t understand or accept the doctrine of transubstantiation.)

In the Gospel of Mark, we learn of those who saw the truth but didn’t believe, and their hearts were hardened. Let us remain ever vigilant that – through Sacraments, Scripture, prayer, and more – we have ample opportunity to know God. If we fail to do so, the fault is with us.

About the Author

Despite being a professional writer and editor for over 15 years, Steven Marsh is more-or-less winging it when it comes to writing about matters of faith. Steven entered the church in 2005, and since then he's been involved with various ministries, including Pre-Cana marriage prep for engaged couples, religious education for kindergarteners, and Stephen Ministry's one-on-one caregiving. Steven lives in Indiana with his wife and son. Despite having read the entirety of the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, he's still surprised at elements he rediscovers or reflects upon in new ways. The more Steven learns about the faith, the less he feels he knows; he's keen to emphasize that any mistakes are his own.

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9 Comments

  1. Merry Christmas Stephen. May God richly bless you in your work and service to the Holy Catholic Church .

  2. Thanks Bro. Steven, you enlightens our understanding about the readings of today. What a nice reflections!

    Really, we can always see God through the eyes of faith in His manifestation of His LOVE, which conquers all fears.

  3. Love is how we see God. Transubstantiation is not easy to understand but love gives us the sight we need to see God all around us and in this sacrament. I too was taken aback by ” the hardness of their hearts”. The first reading gives example to what the apostles lacked when they say Jesus walk on water. They did not yet love. Thanks ! Good reflection.

  4. Hey Steve,

    I seem to be getting a steady diet of curveballs. “He meant to pass by them”. Really?

    Mark

  5. I have been thinking of your reflection all week and wanted to respond again. “Hardened hearts”, how do we soften them to love. From another reflection at Christmas reminded me of the Luke 17:20-21 where Jesus said the “Kingdom of God is inside of us”. He is telling us that the door starts within us. Going back to the first reading where no one has seen God when we truly have a relationship with Him it starts from our hearts when we love one another. It starts in our families, goes out to our co workers and the world. Then we see God through our love and the sacraments. We see God and the kingdom of God with the eyes of the Holy Spirit and surprisingly we can experience this now. No one will probably read this but I had to get it out of my head and is truly a “Close Moment to Christ” for me this week. God Bless!

  6. Thank you very much Steven. God richly bless you grant you more Wisdom of understanding.

  7. So there I am walking past a little Church in Port Glasgow Scotland called St Johns, I thought I will pop in for a look, what a lovely looking Church this is I thought to myself.. and then bam just like that he sat down beside me and said I am God in English perfect English tell the world I am not dead and my son is now living among you this day. Phew I thought who was that God dressed like a Reverend just spoke to me no… So off I went still wondering and then it hit me what if it was you never know. Just 10 min after that encounter i get a phone call we have a heart for you come in and lets get prepared, so again I did and it went great in fact fantastic.. while I was sleeping the nurse said a priest came to visit you a reverend to be exact, and said remember to spread the message give this to him when he wakes.. I thought and thought about this because in my head there is no God but if this guy says he is God then again who am I to say he is not So hear is that message My son lives among you have confidence in the truth believe. You shall see the devil in the pulpit be not afraid I have come to save you he shall not walk the earth again my son walks among you. Ok I have told you my story this message was brought to you from God mio figlio cammina in mezzo a voi pray your prayers shall be heard.

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