533. What is the greatest human desire?
(Comp 533) The greatest desire of the human person is to see God. “I want to see
God” is the cry of our whole being. We realize our true and full happiness in
the vision and beatitude of the One who created us out of love and draws us to
himself with infinite love. “Whoever sees God has obtained all the goods of
which he can conceive.” (Saint Gregory of Nyssa)
“In brief”
(CCC 2557) "I want to
see God" expresses the true desire of man. Thirst for God is quenched by
the water of eternal life (cf. In 4:14).
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 2548) Desire for true
happiness frees man from his immoderate attachment to the goods of this world
so that he can find his fulfillment in the vision and beatitude of God.
"The promise [of seeing God] surpasses all beatitude.... In Scripture, to
see is to possess.... Whoever sees God has obtained all the goods of which he
can conceive" (St. Gregory of Nyssa, De
beatitudinibus 6: PG 44, 1265A). (CCC 2549)
It remains for the holy people to struggle, with grace from on high, to obtain
the good things God promises. In order to possess and contemplate God, Christ's
faithful mortify their cravings and, with the grace of God, prevail over the
seductions of pleasure and power.
Reflection
(CCC 2550) On this way of
perfection, the Spirit and the Bride call whoever hears them (Cf. Rev 22:17) to
perfect communion with God: There will true glory be, where no one will be
praised by mistake or flattery; true honor will not be refused to the worthy, nor
granted to the unworthy; likewise, no one unworthy will pretend to be worthy,
where only those who are worthy will be admitted. There true peace will reign,
where no one will experience opposition either from self or others. God himself
will be virtue's reward; he gives virtue and has promised to give himself as
the best and greatest reward that could exist.... "I shall be their God
and they will be my people...." This is also the meaning of the Apostle's
words: "So that God may be all in all." God himself will be the goal
of our desires; we shall contemplate him without end, love him without surfeit,
praise him without weariness. This gift, this state, this act, like eternal
life itself, will assuredly be common to all (St. Augustine, De civ. Dei, 22, 30: PL 41, 801-802; cf.
Lev 26:12; cf. 1 Cor 15:28).
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