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We often hear about some parents having dreams about their children (future saints) being great people, such as St. Samuel the Confessor's father's dream about him, etc. Why is it that it only happens to some? Although it is not related, we can also take the example of Saint Paul's vision. Why does Christ not appear to everyone like that? I am not questioning the wisdom of God but I am curious.

As the Lord Jesus Christ said to the Apostle Thomas, He also says to us: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). Rather than condensing the Lord's intervention with us to a mere apparition, a vision, or a dream, we can say without any doubt that He reaches out to each of us in a way that we can deal with Him and His message. He leaves the choice to us whether to accept or reject Him. Archangel Gabriel delivered a profound message to Zachariah the priest and an even more profound message to St. Mary. Zachariah was a priest and the Holy Scripture mentioned Abraham and Sarah having a child at an elderly age, as well as other barren women who later bore children. As for St. Mary, a virgin girl barely in her early teen years, she accepted God's will through the same messenger. God spoke to Moses and revealed His incarnation in an unlikely burning bush. However, it was a clear revelation of God's plan for the salvation of the world and an invitation for Moses to serve Him. God spoke to Jonah, first directly, but Jonah rejected God's message though it came to him first-hand. Rather, Jonah, finally heard God's voice though the storm, the big fish, and the gourd. Samuel heard God calling his name, but did not understand at first. Elijah heard God's voice as a "still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12). St. Peter, miserable for having denied the Lord, heard Him with a look more than with His words which the Lord Jesus said directly to St. Peter.  However, He heard Him clearly when the rooster crowed after St. Peter thrice denied the Lord as He foretold Him. St. Anthony heard God's voice leading him to monasticism during the reading of the Holy Gospel, and left all to follow Him. When he encountered the obstacle of a woman bathing in the lake on his route, her advice to him to go deeper into the wilderness, He accepted it as of it was God's voice to him. The strife between St. Paul the Hermit and his brother concerning their inheritance was also God's voice to turn away from the vanities of the world to a higher and richer spiritual life. God reaches out to all of us through love, joy, hope, sorrow, adversity, in times of peace, and in times of war, He is always there trying to help us see Him and know Him. Thus, if you consider not just a time, but how many times God has reached out to you, you will realize that from the time He formed you, He has called out to you directly by name. Not only is He near to you and to all of us, but we are the apple of His eye. What can be closer than this? "For thus says the Lord of hosts: 'He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.'" (Zechariah 2:8). Not only are you the apple of His eye, but the literal interpretation is the pupil of His eye. He is much closer than we know and has revealed Himself in many ways and in every breath we take. Do not search for supernatural phenomena because His message is personalized just for you.

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me" (Isaiah 49:15-16).