We always make the sign of the cross. I see people making the sign of the cross when they board a car, cross a street, climb a tree. We make the sign of the cross before we take an exam, shoot a basketball, and I’ve seen it many times, before boxers punish their opponents in boxing matches!
Almost always, without fail, whenever we pass by the church, we make the sign of the cross.
When I celebrate mass in the Barangay Chapels, I observe how some would make the sign of the cross whenever they would pass by the chapel! (Of course, they would not enter the chapel and celebrate the mass with us, but for them, making the sign of the cross was enough. They have already worshipped God with that simple sign on their forehead, their chest and their shoulders)! It was a short prayer, for them.
People understand and recognize the divine presence in the house of God, even in a small chapel in the barrio. The sign of the cross made affirms this recognition; it moves the people to acknowledge that God is present in the house of prayer! Churches and chapels are associated with God’s presence. To acknowledge this presence, people make the sign of the cross.
I never realized however how this divine presence is seen in almost all things!
Last Sunday on our way to our Barangay Mass, while riding on the now familiar red Parish Jeep, with Rev. Red taking the wheel, we met several young men. It seemed they just finished playing basketball. They were jostling and playing loudly with one another. When we were just about to pass them, they suddenly became very quiet.
A look of recognition!
They saw the Parish Jeep, with the Parish Priest and the Rev. Deacon driving.
One of them made the sign of the cross!
