Sign of the cross

One morning, I felt a slight nudge when I looked at the little crucifix in the rosary I was holding in my hand. And when I made the sign of the cross, I was brought back to that time when the nuns in school reminded us what the sign of the cross signifies.

With the Sign, we send a visible sign to the world. St. Ephrem of Syria advised:

“Mark all your actions with the sign of the life-giving Cross. Do not go out from the door of your house till you have signed yourself with the Cross. Do not neglect that sign whether in eating or drinking or going to sleep, or in the home or going on a journey. There is no habit to be compared with it. Let it be a protecting wall round all your conduct, and teach it to your children that they may earnestly learn the custom.”

Signing ourselves with the Cross has become an integral part of every Catholic’s life. When I pass a church, whether I’m walking or riding, I cross myself. When lightning zips through the sky, I make the Sign as if to ward away the danger. In taking a bath, I first dip my finger into the water and then make the Sign. I did ask myself one time why I had to do that. Then I brush away my curiosity by telling myself that my mother taught me to do it since I was young.

But making the Sign of the Cross is not a mere habit. It is not a casual thing. It is a prayer in itself to acknowledge God in His three persons:  “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” But I think we don’t realize this and so we just rush in doing it.

Using our right hand, we should touch our forehead slowly at the mention of the Father; the lower middle of your chest at the mention of the Son; and the left shoulder on the word “Holy” and the right shoulder on the word “Spirit.”

There is another way of making the Sign and this is after the reading of the Gospel in the Holy Mass. After the priest says “The Gospel according to ….”, we make the double Sign on our forehead, on our lips and on our chest.

Again, I remember my Religion class in high school which taught us that this Sign means we promise to be pure in thought (forehead), word (lips) and deed (chest).

Single or double signing, I believe that the Sign of the Cross means that to keep our thoughts, words and deeds pure and holy, we need the grace of God the Father, the obedience and humility of the Son and the power of the Holy Spirit.

We are nothing in this world. God, in its three Persons, enables us to the person who is worthy to enter His Kingdom one day. To get to the Father, we need Jesus who in turn gave us the Holy Spirit to help us move towards the heavenly direction while still on earth.

Ever wonder how we are able to face our daily challenges? It is not by our might or power or riches. It is by God’s Spirit. And the Cross reminds us that there is no problem that Jesus is not able to carry. He died for us, for our sins, for our burdens. So He can continue to carry us through.

Last week, when I celebrated another year of my life, my sister sent me this beautiful birthday message:

“You asked for strength and God gave you to make you strong.

You asked for wisdom and God gave you problems to solve.

You asked for courage and God gave you danger to overcome.

You asked for love and God gave you troubled people to help.

You asked for favors and God gave you opportunities.

You received nothing you wanted but received everything you needed.”

And I say ”Amen” to all of these. When I look at the Cross or hold the crucifix, I am always reminded that God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit is the source of my strength, wisdom, courage, love and the favors that come to my life. So despite the struggles and oppressions I continue to encounter, how can I say that life is a problem to be solved? By God’s grace, my life will always be a gift to be enjoyed.

I am glad that as I notch another year in my life, I don’t worry about age. I look at the Cross and thank our Lord for losing His life so I can live year after year.

As long as I look at the Cross and make the Sign, I know that every year I celebrate my birthday, it brings me one step closer to seeing God face to face.

That is the greatest gift I look forward to receiving.