We communicate a lot in our family with text messages and “bitmoji’s” — little cartoons of our faces that portray our feelings and situations.

On Mondays, I always write the next Sunday’s sermon (Draft One, that is); our kids will text and ask how the writing’s going.  Here is my usual reply:

Bitmoji’s convey things that words can’t capture.  And they evoke a response from the receiver — a laugh, a nod of understanding.  Suddenly, we’re connected and caring for each other across the miles.

Bitmoji’s are instructive in how religious symbols work.  Has a Bible story touched your soul, helping you understand your life?  Has a musical performance or a hymn overwhelmed you with its truth?  Has the quiet beauty of our chapel moved you,  connecting you to God?  Consider these sacred “bitmoji’s” — bundles of deep religious meaning, working on our souls.

This Sunday’s scripture lessons warn about the misuse of religious symbols and words — used to catch and trip up an opponent, used to create division and distrust, used for proud posturing.  Religious words and symbols, instead, should astonish, move and change our lives — that is their proper, sacred use.

This Sunday we continue our sermon series on the New Testament’s “postcards.”  These little postcards pack a lot of punch.  Their brief words can change our hearts — just like a good bitmoji.