"Mere" Symbols and "Participatory" Symbols

Every major corporation has a logo, or symbol to 'bind up' its corporate identity for us, and they spend millions of dollars in research to determine what these symbols conjure up to us consumers. Think for instance of the Nike logo, or the Golden Arches of McDonald's. These symbols communicate subliminally and even viscerally to us of the essential reality they stand for. Nations understand this and strive to choose noble symbols to represent themselves. We pledge allegiance to the flag ..." and to the Republic for which it stands..." knowing that the flag is not an object of worship in itself, but that it effectively contains, in visual shorthand, all the patriotism due our country. We accept without question the concept that the flag is a sign which points to a larger reality beyond itself. It is tempting to consecrate the flag as a holy object of our civil religion, and even to desire to punish those who would misuse this precious symbol of our national life. To a large degree, we accept this impulse toward veneration as right and good.

However, when it comes to religious symbols, we become suspicious and agitated, largely I believe, because we don't understand the nature of symbols. Mark Pearson, in his book "Christian Healing", has made a helpful distinction between a "mere" symbol and a "participatory" symbol. A mere symbol says Pearson, is something that stands for something else; for instance the flag in our previous example. The crosses that hang in many sanctuaries are also "mere" symbols -they point to the reality of salvation, but no power inheres in the cross itself. The word "sign" has also been used to convey this idea of pointing to something else beyond the sign itself.

A participatory symbol, however, both stands for something and is the thing itself. A dollar bill stands for the treasury of the United States, but is also a medium of exchange that allows us to trade for goods and services; we participate in its value. In like manner Sacraments are participatory symbols; they both signify something and allow us to participate in it at the same time. By definition they are: ..." outward and visible symbols of an inward and spiritual reality, and sure and certain means of grace." Baptism both shows that we have entered the kingdom and ushers us into the Kingdom as we are covered by the water of death and rise to walk in newness of life. When we use anointing oil in healing prayer the oil has no medicinal value but it both signifies the presence of the Holy Spirit and allows us to participate in His presence.

The mystery of the Sacraments is that common, mundane things convey timeless, eternal truths. If we take this to its logical conclusion, we realize that Christians are really sacramental as well. We are mundane - ashes to ashes, dust to dust - but we have this treasure (the Holy Spirit) in vessels of clay, causing us to be "outward and visible signs of an inward and spiritual reality". In the Communion table then, we have a double symbolism. The bread and wine are the symbols of Christ's incarnation and sacrifice, while our bodies are the symbols of His new incarnation - the mystical Body of Christ through which we participate in Kingdom Life.