The Trojan horse is upon us! In a fully globalized and digitized postmodern society, symbols abound, flitting across our phone screens and through our psychological spaces at top speed. They are really quite marvelous: the logo of our favorite baseball team, a flashback photo from our social media account, a religious icon, an advertisement for tacos, a laughing emoji, all in rapid succession! The invisible influence of the symbol gives it a kind of divine mystique – hence the prominent place of symbols in liturgical worship – yet one should be careful about the soldiers who lay hidden within. Symbols can serve as host for another person’s fears, anxieties, insecurities, and general baggage. We must therefore be on our guard at all times (1 Pet 5:8). With Jesus standing watch at the door to our souls (Jn 10:9-11), our intellects, like a two-edged sword (Heb 4:12), have the power to confront and deconstruct any symbol that comes knocking. We shall not only be kept safe, but we shall be of service to the multitude of these masked enemies by knowing them deeply and gently redirecting them to Jesus who is desperate to keep them safe too. Ave Crux, Spes Unica.
February 22, 2025
Published