In the Darkness We See Farther – Pondering the Paradox of the "Dark Knowing" of Faith

051215As human beings we are very visual and there is a certain demand of our flesh to see on its own terms. But of course God, who is pure spirit, will not be seen in this way.

How can the human eye perceive what is spiritual? It is not designed to do so. We cannot see God, as God, any more than we should expect to be able to see justice sitting down to lunch with humility. These are not physical concepts; they are metaphysical ones. We may see evidence of their existence, but we do not physically see them. And so also with God. We see lots of evidence of His existence, but we do not see Him with our earthly eyes.

There is a well-known (but inaccurate) saying, “Seeing is believing.” But actually it is not; seeing is only seeing. When we see physical things or events, one of two things happens, either of which eliminates the existence of any sort of faith:

1. We see something and accept it as true, in which case faith is no longer necessary, for it is not necessary to believe what we can plainly see.

2. We scoff or act bemused and continue to disbelieve, saying (for example when we see a magic trick), “There’s a way of doing that; it’s just an illusion.”

In either case, faith (human or supernatural) is set aside when we see something with our earthly eyes.

Therefore, as Scripture insists over and over again, faith is not a matter of seeing in a physical way.

  1. Now faith is the substance of things to be hoped for, the evidence of things that appear not (Hebrews 11:1).
  2. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Cor 4:18).
  3. For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7).
  4. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? (Rom 8:24)
  5. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known (1 Cor 13:12).
  6. And though you have not seen [Jesus], you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:8-9).
  7. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe (John 20:29).
  8. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Rom 10:17).

St. Thomas Aquinas says, Faith is a habit of the mind whereby eternal life is begun in us, making the intellect assent to what is non-apparent (Summa IIa IIae 4 ad 1).

Therefore faith is not about what is seen with our earthly eyes. It comes from hearing—hearing the Word of God.

That said, faith is a way of knowing and thus also a way of “seeing,” but more in the intellectual sense, as when we say, “Oh! Now I see” when we grasp a point intellectually. And though we know and “see” by faith, spiritual theologians such as St. John of the Cross remind us that the seeing and knowing by faith is “obscure.”

Now usually we think of the word “obscure” with a negative connotation. If something is obscure, it is tricky or hard to figure out and we look for something to illumine the darkness, to scatter the obscurity.

Not so fast. Consider the deeply paradoxical notion that the darkness, the obscurity actually helps us to see better! Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange explains it this way:

Obscure faith enlightens us somewhat like the night, which though surrounding us with shadows, allows us to see the stars, and by them, the depths of the firmament. … That we may see the stars, the sun must hide, night must begin. Amazingly, in the obscurity of the night we see to a far greater distance than in the day; we see even the distant stars which reveal to us the immense expanse of the heavens. … [And so] faith, although obscure, opens up to us the supernatural world and its infinite depths: the Kingdom of God, His inner life, which we shall see unveiled and clearly in eternity (The Three Ages of the Interior Life, Tan Publications Vol 1, p. 361)

In the darkness we see farther and deeper into space. Sunlight is precious, but it envelops us; it closes us in a much smaller world. We see better what is near; what is farther off and higher up is lost to us. From the perspective of our physical senses, faith is a “dark” knowing or seeing. By it we see farther and higher, longer and deeper.

Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange continues,

Faith is obscure but it illumines our intellect … in a way very superior to the senses and to reason. … What is evident for our senses is sensible, not spiritual; therefore it is not God himself. … Now faith makes us attain here on earth the inner life of God in the penumbra, in obscurity. Consequently a man who preferred visions to infused faith would deceive himself … for he would prefer what is superficial and exterior, and what is accessible to our faculties, to what surpasses them. He would prefer figures to the divine reality (Ibid).

And therefore we must beware of the strong demand of our flesh to see on its own terms. Our earthly eyes are not going to see God on the terms that our flesh demands. He is just too immanent, too transcendent for that. Our eyes see what physically exists but not Existence Himself. If we yield to this demand of our flesh we are going to limit our world immensely. We will certainly see worldly and physical things well, but we will miss the greater portion of reality: the Kingdom of God and God Himself!

Welcome to the modern world; a small world increasingly closed in on itself; a world no longer enchanted and charged with mystery; a world that demands to see only in physical terms, preferring what is superficial and exterior, preferring the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.

Ponder the great paradox of the “darkness” and “obscurity” of faith. For in the humility of accepting the darkness, we see farther, higher, deeper, and longer. Jesus is the Light of the world. But we see Him in the “darkness” of faith and understand Him most clearly not by the false light of this world, but by faith. Faith is obscure to our senses, but understood by our souls as a necessary condition to loving Him as our only and true Light.

21 Replies to “In the Darkness We See Farther – Pondering the Paradox of the "Dark Knowing" of Faith”

  1. Thanks Father Pope. This really helps. I’m going through a very tough situation right now and I’m praying for a miracle. Maybe a Saint or an Angel..something. I’m at a hospice near Atlanta with my wife who is dying with cancer. We have 5 children and they just aren’t aware that they may not have their mother much longer. I keep praying and hoping for something to happen but the time keeps getting nearer and nearer that she will be gone. Please pray for us that we will live by Faith and not by sight.

    Thanks,
    Russ

    1. I pray for your wife, for you and your children. GOD Bless you all. Remember GOD is in control whatever happens. I offer my discomforts and pains for all of you. GOD love you!

    2. Russ, I’m praying for you and your family this morning. Don’t fret. You are in Gods Hands and His Plan. All is well.

    3. Russ, you and your wife and children will be in my prayers. I’m very sorry you’re going through this. May God bless you and grant you His peace.

    4. Russ, my wife had cancer once…bad. She recovered, thankfully. But I think I know where you are. God bless your family. You are all in my prayers.

    5. Russ, may the cure of your wife be so. This prayer is offered up for her:

      O Saint Peregrine, you who have been called “The Wonder-Worker” because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have had recourse to you, who for so many years bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being, and who had recourse to the source of all grace when the power of man could do no more: you who were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction, ask of God and Our Lady the cure of these sick persons whom we entrust to you (names of those for whom you are praying, including yourself if need be). Aided in this way by your powerful intercession, we shall sing praise to God for His great goodness and mercy. Amen.

    6. Russ, may the Lord Jesus in His Divine Mercy grant you the miracle you and your family need.

  2. Russ, I am sure I speak for all who read this, we will keep you and your family in our prayers. God bless you and may Mary keep you all wrapped in her mantle.

  3. I’m so sorry. That sounds unimaginably tough. I offer my prayers, Russ.

  4. No words can express my appreciation. I am astounded at the Wisdom contained in this Homily. Understanding the truth of living by Faith and not by sight in my current life is like receiving just bit of the True and total Wisdom we Hope and work to obtain in our next life. Many thanks and my prayers to Russ and family.

  5. Even if GOD showed infinity, even if HE shows to us HIS full Magnificence and HIS Excellence, nobody can comprehend nor fathom HIS full Greatness because of our being mortal. No eye had seen, no ears had heard what GOD has ready for those who loves HIM. What I can hold onto right now is the Tradition and Scriptures HIS Bishops handed down through generations of the faithful. Of course, I use reason to comprehend, understand in my little mind and heart, the faith and love handed down to me (not just blind obedience) for GOD. No explanation is necessary for those who believe, no explanation is possible for those without faith. Yes, for me darkness and obscurity of faith works on me because my soul longs for HIM all the more. YHWH SHEKINAH!

  6. I once heard a great Catholic preacher talk about Faith and Understanding not being opposed, though not being the same thing either. He said “it’s a dark light, it’s a dark light.”

    Thanks Father Pope for helping me to understand this saying much better.

  7. I’ll need to read this post a few times to really get it. I already know that this is one that holds a brand new realization for me…something that will take me deeper. Thanks, Monsignor.

  8. Only a loving God would make a mango for a sinner like me. And only a merciful God would feed every other animal as well today. Even the whales and the bears. He put stuff in the heavens that we would not even see till we made a telescope. There’s stuff in the sea that no man has ever seen, but He still put it there. Will we see all His wonders before He returns? No, you could live forever and still not have gotten to all His cities. Faith is something that will grow forever. Jesus is demonstrating how faithful he is to us, He is showing us that even 10 billion years from now we can still rest in the surity of His mercy His Love and His wisdom and understanding. You can’t believe how awesome this is going to be, hang on to your hat.

  9. Thank you all for your prayers. Kristi is very weak and in lots of pain. We continue to pray and ask for the intercession of saints.

    We love you all,
    Russ

  10. Consolation and peace is given by God in times of need. The Fatima children could see Our Lady, Our Lord,St.Joseph and the Child Jesus. Ordinary people saw Our Lady, St.Joseph and St. John the evangelist at Knock in County Mayo Ireland. The best place is a Church, Chapel, a rosary,consider the rosary to Our Lady of Sorrows. Thanks.

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