Talking.
All symbols are signs, but not all signs are symbols.
Signs represent something other than their physical reality.
Symbols are like signs on steroids.
Sign or symbol?
Symbols have three defining characteristics that differentiate them from simple signs…
Symbols may have more than one meaning.
FIRE!
Fire has many different meanings.
Fire means warmth.
Fire means light.
Fire means destruction.
Fire can even mean BBQ.
What symbols stand for is connected to what they are.
WATER!
Water is a symbol for survival, BECAUSE we depend on water to survive.
Water is a symbol for cleanliness, BECAUSE water is used to clean things (like dogs).
The point is, we don’t GIVE water meaning The point is, we don’t GIVE water meaning. Water has certain qualities, and we discover these qualities, and those qualities are what gives water meaning in our lives.
Symbols evoke more than one kind of response from us.
Christmas Lights! Brightness of the holiday season! The Coming of Jesus as the light of the world! Christmas Lights! It reminds us of friends, and friends brighten up our life! Light and warmth symbolized by the Christ child in the manger.
Cultural vs. Universal Symbols
Cultural symbols change depending on time or place Cultural symbols change depending on time or place. The meaning of a cultural symbol is dependent upon…well, culture.
Universal symbols are not tied to a specific situation, group or place Universal symbols are not tied to a specific situation, group or place. Water is an example of a universal symbol. In every culture in the world, water is symbolic of life.
Sometimes, universal symbols have contradictory meanings.
Water can give life…
…but water can also kill.
Literal vs. Symbolic Thinking
Horses wear blinders so they can only concentrate on a single point or path. Horses wear blinders because they’re easily frightened.
We are not horses. We don’t wear blinders.
…but when we only think literally, we’re missing the big picture. We talked about taking a SECOND look to become sacramentally aware. Sacramental awareness is also about shifting from literal to symbolic thinking.
What is “literal” thinking?
Literal thinking CAN be a good thing. Often times, it’s necessary! It would be bad if a surgeon started thinking symbolically in the middle of an operation.
…but literal thinking can’t really describe love …but literal thinking can’t really describe love. In order to REALLY describe love, we need…
SYMBOLIC THINKING!
Symbolic thinking helps us to explain complicated and powerful realities. Like Love. Or God.
TAKE OFF YOUR BLINDERS! TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT REALITY!
SACRAMENTS are SYMBOLS of God’s Grace.
They are avenues to deeper realities that give us an experience of God.
For Reflection: Where do you find God? How does God speak to you through symbols? Symbols are the language that Creation uses to talk about the Creator. God has the whole world in his hands. Take off your blinders, and learn that language. How will you become sacramentally aware?