Marked by the Cross, Claimed by the Trinity

We frequently bless ourselves with the sign of the cross. For many of us, it’s a gesture we make often: before meals, when entering church, at the start of prayer. Because it becomes so automatic, we can forget its depth and beauty. The sign of the cross is not just a habit. It is a prayer, a confession of faith and a blessing all in one simple movement. We call upon the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Power in Signs

This small sign is very powerful as it marks our bodies with the Cross. With our right hand, we trace the shape of the cross upon ourselves, reminding us that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. Some even join their thumb and first two fingers together, a gesture that can remind us of the three-in-one nature of God: Trinity in unity.

Three in One

We celebrate The Most Holy Trinity on Sunday, June 15. It is a mystery of divine relationship, a truth to live and not to explain. In John’s Gospel (16:12–15), Jesus speaks to his disciples about the Spirit of truth, who will guide them into all truth. Jesus explains that the Holy Spirit will pass on what he hears from Jesus, and Jesus, in turn, shares what he has received from God the Father. This passage gives us a glimpse into the inner life of God: a communion of love and unity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each distinct, yet entirely one, moving together in truth, love, and purpose.

Living the Message

Every time we make the sign of the cross, we step into this mystery. We remember that we are held in the loving relationship of the Father, who loves us; the Son who redeems us; and the Holy Spirit who continues to guide us. Don’t take this sign for granted. Let it become a conscious and continuous expression of faith. A mark of trust. A prayer from the heart. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.