In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit;” vs. 13
Ephesians 1:11-23
“You have been sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” We hear these words regularly in the baptism rituals of our congregations. They are said following the washing with water and are a precious reminder of the grace that has been poured out upon us through our Lord Jesus. The cross then, etched on our foreheads in that baptism, is an indelible mark of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives. It can’t be rubbed off or washed away and remains until the close of our days. Some people make the sign of the cross many times each day. More than a habit for most, it’s a sign of faith and a connection to God’s sustaining grace. Because the cross has become ubiquitous in our culture it has been adopted by many as a piece of jewelry. Often such use is tasteful and a testimony to faith, but when the cross is encrusted with diamonds and hanging on a massive chain, the connection to Jesus is less obvious. We can be grateful that the very best reminder of our baptismal cross comes in the retracing that takes place on Ash Wednesday. We carry the mark of the cross every day, but on that day the invisible becomes visible.
Thought for the Day: When do I make the sign of the cross?
0 Comments