Light is most clearly visible in darkness. The contrast is sharper, more defined. But Saint Paul observes that what eyes see, minds do not always perceive. There seems to be a breakdown between optics and brain.

Often minds are blind. Unbelieving minds do not see the light of God’s glory in the face of Christ, Saint Paul observes with great sorrow. He says, "The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ." Our fealties to worldly power, popularity, and position make our minds impervious to God’s glory.

That’s mainly because we have inadequate conceptions of glory. We see it where it isn’t and do not see it where it is. Glory is creative, not destructive. The accumulation of riches may only shrivel so…