LITERAL vs. SYMBOLIC THINKING Is this all there really is?
JOURNAL QUESTION: Make a list of some of the cheesiest lines you’ve heard people say (or you’ve said yourself) to express one’s love to another. Example: My heart skips a beat every time we meet.
LITERAL VS. SYMBOLIC THINKING That’s all there is Concerned with visible, observable facts Useful for precise measurements SYMBOLIC There’s more than meets the eye Concerned with the meaning beneath the surface Useful for sacramental awareness
PARABLES A parable is a metaphor or simile drawn from nature or common life, used to reveal a truth about God The meaning of parables are usually not so obvious
Group Assignments: Luke 5:36-39 (Garments and Wineskins) Matt. 13:3-9 (The Sower and the Seeds) Matt. 13:24-30 (Weeds & Wheat) Mark 4:30-34 (The Mustard Seed) Luke 20:9-18 (The Wicked Tenants) Luke 15:1-7 (The Lost Sheep) Luke 14:15-24 (The Great Feast) Luke 10:29-37 (The Good Samaritan)
In Groups… Make a list of each of the symbols in the story Describe what each of those symbols could symbolize Explain what literally is happening in the story Explain the symbolic understanding of it