The Eyes of Faith

John Paul II has written many letters and quite a few foundational encyclicals of the church. In addition, he has written many poems, one of which I will address. “When You Open Your Eyes Deep in a Wave,” was written by John Paul II.

 

When you open your eyes deep in a wave

poem #2 in the series Song of the Brightness of Water
by Karol Wojtyla

Transparent after fresh rain, the stones glisten
as each passing step touches them slightly.
Soon in will be evening. Banging. Doors open.
How many people will enter? How many will
thaw in the light from the windows?
Evening has come. Now and again the face
of a passer-by opens the human wall – then
window lights carry it over
to some other place nearby.
The wall now contracts, now widens; still the same.
Eyes can break out of the dark, only just -
the wall is easy.

But, I tell you, your sight alone
scarcely catches people as they flow
on the wave of fluorescent lights.
They are revealed by what is most concealed
within them, that which no flame
will burn out.

When your eyes are half-closed, space
fills again with substance beyond understanding -
the darkness of men is drawn back
cradling that goodness
which feeds you from each in the crowd
as long as you are silent,
which your shouts
turn to dust.

No, no, it is not simply you, each of you,
and were it so,
your presence not only exists, it reveals.

And yet – if eyes could only be opened
not from habit, but differently;
then, then not to forget
their vision filled with delight.

            A the opening of the poem we are presented with the stanza, ”Now and again the face
of a passer-by opens the human wall – then window lights carry it over to some other place nearby. The wall now contracts, now widens; still the same.” We see that there is some sort of opening. The doors opening could indicate our degree of openness for taking people into ourselves and our eyes. However, I think John Paul II was getting to a deeper issue, “looking into someone verses looking through someone.” He is trying to teach us how to see with the eyes of faith. In Fides Et Ratio he writes, “But our vision of the face of God is always fragmentary and impaired by the limits of our understanding. Faith alone makes it possible to penetrate the mystery in a way that allows us to understand it coherently.” Therefore, just as we need the vision of faith to see God, we also need it to see our fellow human beings. The wall that he writes of seems to be in reference to the human will. In other words, it remarks on what we allow to penetrate us, people and teaching. In order to be open to people and teachings entering us we need education and faith (faith and reason).

            He also writes, “the darkness of men is drawn back.” This could indicate that when we take people on the surface we may just see the darkness and imperfections. But in order to find what is deep within, we must find a place of silence. When we find this silence we can see what is “most concealed.” What is most concealed is the goodness of man! The goodness of man can sometimes be concealed by our own sight, which left unaided may lead us to only see the surface of men. He is asking us to learn how to see again. He is asking us to break the habit of the word to only see on the surface and to let him guide us with the eyes of faith. This new world that we see soon allows us to see goodness as a distinguishing factor. “This is light amidst the darkness!” In a way, we see a new dimension with a fresh pair of eyes. And as we learn how to see with these new eyes we can teach others.

            I absolutely love the work of John Paul II, especially his poetry. My love for his poetry is quite new, considering that I studied most of his poetry this semester along with Regina. However, I find his poetry especially revealing when it comes to true faith, theology and TRUTH. His poems are truly profound and easy to get lost in. He manages to portray fundamental truths in the form of poetry. On some level, this is also what I find most difficult about his poetry. I find that it can be somewhat overwhelming. He packs so much into his poems that it can be hard to know where to start. Also, one needs to have a basic knowledge and sometimes even more basic knowledge of theology and the encyclicals to understand his poetry and what he is trying to say. In general, although his poetry can be difficult to muscle through, he definitely gives us a fresh pair of eyes after what he says is revealed.

 

Work Cited:

 

-          Fides Et Ratio

 

-          “When you open your eyes deep in a wave,” Poetry of John Paul II.