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The second voice of the text, whether it is
Scripture, Nature or Experience answers the question: what does it
mean? An example is Jerusalem is the home for the pilgrim, the holy
sanctuary where God resides, the Heavenly City.
The first level answers the question: What does it say? At the first
level Jerusalem is an earthly city that is attributed to King
David’s reign. Today it is in Israel and occupied by the Jewish
Government
The meaning is mediated through symbol. There are many devices to
indicate meaning using analogy, simile, story; word-play of sounds
and images, a whole genre could be used like a poem, a canticle, a
song or a dance.
This second voice often uses myth to evoke the whole of a meaning
shifting from linear time to epic time, particular space shifts to
universal experience. We use the term classic for this second voice:
it applies to all, everyone, everywhere, at all times!
The technique is to connect one idea/concept/insight to shine or
amplify another. Together the meaning is available. “Jesus set his
face toward Jerusalem.” Or “no sign of Jonah will be given to this
generation”. Or the kingdom of heaven is like the lilies of the
field. These familiar sayings cannot be taken literally, but
understanding the symbols use of the city of Jerusalem, the
non-profit Jonah, or the natural lily field that blooms season after
season indicate the meaning behind the text. Meaning is about connections:
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It’s like
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It reminds me
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The first indicates the last
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There’s an exaggeration here or minimalism
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The hidden meaning is many sided and effable or
pluriform or multivalent.
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Meaning crosses the boundaries of possibility,
evokes humor, and draws tears.
If a symbol is read as a fact it is reductionism,
leads to fundamentalism and distorts the intended meaning of the
author. E.g. the myth of Genesis Creation account.
A large group of texts are types of characters from one period of
history referring to another: John the Baptist, Elijah, Moses,
Abraham. In the New Testament there is referencing of Hebrew
prophets and events to Christ Jesus. Jesus is then seen as the
allegorical meaning and the Old Testament is seen as prophetic
toward the Christ event. This is somewhat delicate for Jewish
Catholic dialogue today as the Hebrew Scriptures have integrity all
their own without the New Testament being linked to them. Judaism is
a revealed religion with inspired Scriptures.
The text is using symbols to share meaning with the reader
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