Faith means knowing beyond the mind.
Fr. Thomas Keating, a Trappist monk who lived in Colorado, tells a story about the nature of faith. He wrote, “Suppose a neighbor's house starts to burn down. His little boy is trapped on the third floor while all the rest of the family has escaped. The father cannot go back into the house to rescue him. He is standing outside under the window and sees him at the window, silhouetted against the flames. He cries out, ‘Jump! I'll catch you!’ The little boy's eyes are filled with smoke, so he cannot see his father or the ground. He is afraid to jump, even though he desperately wants to be saved. The father cries out again, ‘Jump! Don't be afraid!’ The little boy cries out: ‘But Daddy, I can't see you!’ The father calls back: ‘But I see you! Jump!’ So, the youngster climbs out onto the windowsill and jumps. He lands safely in his father's outstretched arms.”
This parable elucidates the meaning of faith, especially the kind of faith Jesus wants from Peter in the Gospel reading. This episode of Jesus walking on the water is not only supposed to strike awe in us, but also to draw out our faith. The little boy and the Father in Keating’s parable have a relationship before their house ever catches fire. Jesus heads up to the solitude of a mountain to pray, to deeply sink into his own relationship with God. Here is a first point about faith. We have to nurture it through regular prayer. Prayer, after all, is our relationship with God. Faith presumes a relationship.
Because of his prayer, his intimacy with God, Jesus is above the fray, walking over the tumultuous waters and unaffected by the strong winds. What are the troubles, the tumultuous things, in our lives? We can be above them, too, if we have biblical faith. When we don’t know how we’ll make ends meet or how we’ll come through a bad situation, we may waver and think it’s hopeless. Our fears can then overtake us and toss us about like the winds tossed the disciples about in the boat. Fear dissolves, though, when we know this God who is one with us.
Biblical faith means unknowing, knowing beyond what the mind can reason and what the senses can tell us. This is a definition given by a sixth century Syrian monk named Dionysius. He says unknowing means “knowing beyond the mind by knowing nothing.” Faith does not rely on our senses, on data, or empirical research. Faith goes beyond all of that to trust in God. It is a different kind of knowing. It knows in darkness. The little boy couldn’t see his father on the ground below. There was too much smoke. He was practically blinded by it. But, the father could see the boy. Such is faith. God sees us, knows us, and loves us. We may not have any felt experience of this divine mercy, but it’s there. It’s ours for the taking. We have to surrender in darkness, just like the boy jumping off the ledge into the darkness and the smoke. It’s not a jump of blind trust. He hears his father below. We hear God everyday through scripture, our daily experience, and conscience. Still, it is a leap in the dark, as trusting beyond our experience.
Notice what happens when Peter takes his eyes off Jesus and starts to pay attention to everything his senses warn him to fear. Faith only works when we keep our eyes on the prize, that is, when we stay focused on God in Jesus and don’t go running around for little comforts and securities to make us feel better. In other words, staying in relationship with God includes letting go of our attachments and addictions. Meister Eckhart says, “When the soul is blind and sees nothing else, it sees God.” Letting our addictive desire direct the eyes of our souls means we are not looking at Jesus. We have to gaze upon him to nourish our faith.
Biblical faith means taking courage in the Presence of God, not being afraid because God is with us, within us, and one with us. This is what Jesus represents and, essentially, it is what Jesus is, the presence of God among us. Therefore, Jesus says, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Trusting in God, we won’t fear. Thomas Keating says, “Pure faith is a journey into the unknown. It is a call to follow Jesus out of all the structures, security blankets, and even spiritual practices that serve as props.” Believing in God through Jesus doesn’t soothe our inordinate security needs but exposes them so we can, instead, jump into the arms of our loving God.