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| Captain Marvel #30 1974 for those wondering |
The Journey of Understanding the Divine
Imagine standing on the shore of a vast ocean. The waves gently crash against the sand, and you stare out, knowing there's more beyond the horizon—but you can't quite see it. You wonder, "What lies out there, in the vastness?" This feeling of wonder is the same one we have when trying to understand God.
We know there’s more to Him than what we can see, but how can we truly come to know Him? St. Thomas Aquinas, a theologian and philosopher, spent a lifetime exploring how human beings can understand the divine. Through reason, experience, and faith, Aquinas showed that it's possible to know God—though not completely, as His nature is beyond our grasp. But we can certainly grow closer to Him, step by step.
Let’s explore this journey of knowing God, using both the natural world around us and our own experiences to draw closer to the Divine.
1. Using Analogies to Understand God
One way we can begin to understand God is by using analogies. Aquinas believed that our human minds, limited by time and space, can't fully grasp God's essence. But by looking at the world around us and drawing parallels, we can get a glimpse of His nature. It's like looking at a reflection in a mirror—you see something, but not the full picture.
The Artist and the Painting
Think about a beautiful painting. When you look at it, you know right away that someone created it. The brushstrokes, the colors, the composition—they all point to an artist behind the work. You may not be able to see the artist directly, but their presence is undeniable. The painting is a reflection of their mind, skill, and intent.
In the same way, we come to know God through the world around us. The beauty, order, and complexity of the universe are like clues, pointing us back to God. Aquinas puts it simply:
“The existence of God can be known in the things that are made.”(Summa Theologica, Part I, Question 2, Article 3)
The world itself—every tree, every star, every moment of wonder—whispers to us about the Creator. We can’t see Him directly, but we can perceive His presence in the work He’s made. Like the painting reflects the artist, the universe reflects the will of God.
The Mirror and Reflection
Another analogy that Aquinas uses is the idea of mirrors. When you look into a mirror, you see a reflection of yourself. But that reflection is never the full picture; it's only an image of the real thing. In a similar way, our understanding of God is like looking into a mirror. We can never fully understand God in this life, but we can know something about Him through His works.
Aquinas explains it this way:
“We cannot see God’s essence in this life, but we can know him by his effects.”(Summa Theologica, Part I, Question 12, Article 4)
Just as a mirror gives us only a partial reflection of ourselves, we know God only through His effects on the world, not directly. But that doesn’t mean the knowledge we gain is any less real—it just means it's limited.
2. Divine Revelation: God Speaks to Us Directly
While we can gain knowledge of God through nature and analogies, divine revelation is essential. This is when God reveals Himself directly to us—through Scripture, through Jesus Christ, and through the teachings of the Church. It's like having a conversation with someone who explains things to you directly, instead of trying to figure everything out on your own.
Aquinas acknowledged that, while reason can take us so far, divine revelation is necessary for a fuller understanding of God. He writes:
“It is certain that the things of God are known only by His own self-manifestation.”(Summa Theologica, Part I, Question 1, Article 8)
Without divine revelation, we’d be like students trying to learn about a subject with no teacher. While we can learn a lot through observation and reasoning, we need God to reveal Himself to us for the full picture. Scripture, the life of Christ, and the teachings of the Church are the ways God helps us understand Him more clearly.
3. Personal Experience: Feeling God’s Presence
Another way we can come to know God is through personal experience. Maybe you've had moments of awe—whether in prayer, during a walk in nature, or in a quiet moment of reflection—when you felt connected to something greater than yourself. These moments of deep personal experience can help us feel the presence of God more clearly.
Aquinas believed that knowledge of God isn’t just about reading books or philosophizing; it's about experiencing Him in a personal, intimate way. He describes our relationship with God like this:
“In this life, we see God through a glass, darkly, but in the next life, we will see Him face to face.”(Summa Theologica, Part I, Question 12, Article 3)
While we may not fully experience God in this life, every personal encounter—whether through prayer, worship, or moments of wonder—brings us closer to the divine. It’s like learning to play an instrument: You can read all the music theory you want, but you only truly start to understand music once you play it.
4. The Goal: Union with God
In the end, the goal of all this knowledge is not just intellectual understanding, but union with God. As we grow in knowledge, we move closer to experiencing the divine presence in our lives. This union with God is the deepest form of happiness and fulfillment, according to Aquinas:
“The ultimate end of human life is union with God, in which is found true happiness.”(Summa Theologica, Part I, Question 5, Article 5)
For Aquinas, the deepest longing of the human heart is to be united with the Creator. That’s why our search for knowledge—whether through reason, faith, or experience—ultimately leads to a deeper relationship with God.
Conclusion: The Ongoing Journey
So, how can we know God? It’s a journey one that doesn’t have a final destination this side of heaven. We’ll never fully understand the depths of the divine nature, but we can continue to know Him more deeply through analogies, divine revelation, and personal experience. Each step we take brings us closer to understanding God, even if we’re always looking through a foggy glass.
Remember, just as you can learn a lot about an artist from their painting or about a friend through shared experiences, you can learn about God through the world He’s made, through the Scriptures, and through the personal encounters you have with Him. The journey to understand God isn’t just intellectual; it’s about growing in love and awe, as we are gradually drawn into the divine mystery.
