The three ministers (the Archbishop, the Bishop, and a young minister just out of seminary) were out fishing. It was a really bad day for fishing. They had been there for hours, and they had not had one single bite.
The Archbishop stands up in the boat and announces, "I have faith." Then, he steps out of the boat and proceeds to walk across the water to shore.
The young minister eyes bug, but he does not want to say anything.
Soon, the Bishop stands up in the boat and declares, "I have faith." Likewise, he steps out of the boat and proceeds to walk to shore.
The young minister is doing some serious thinking. He says to himself, "Surely, I have faith."
The young minister stands up in the boat and declares, "I have faith." However, when he steps out of the boat, he goes to the bottom.
The young minister manages to swim back to the surface and pull himself back into the boat. He is feeling a bit down, since he has failed in his attempt to demonstrate his faith.
The young minister says to himself, "Surely, I must have as much faith as they do." He then stands up in the boat and declares, in a firmer voice, "I have faith." He steps out of the boat and goes straight to the bottom.
Being really persistent, the young minister swims back to the surface and pulls himself into the boat. He is really depressed now, having failed a second time to demonstrate his faith. He talks to himself, for a while, and declares to himself, "Surely I must have as much faith as they do."
Again, the young minster stands up in the boat, and with a shout, declares, "I have faith." Again, he steps out of the boat and goes to the bottom.
Again, the young minister swims to the surface and pulls himself into the boat. By now, he is totally dejected.
After watching the young minister's failures, the Bishop turns to the Archbishop and asks, "Do you think we should tell him where the rocks are?"