Deut 4:32-34, 39-40/ Rom 8:14-17/ Mt 28:16-20
There are a number of words that we use that have strange and interesting origins.
Whether these strange and interesting origins are true or otherwise, the fact remains that these words are in current usage and is understood as it is.
For example, the word “OK”. One of the stories is that it originated during the American Civil War (1860s).
When the troops return without any casualties, a notice was put up for all to see.
It read “O Killed”, meaning zero casualties. Later it was shortened to “OK”.
And now whenever we say “OK”, it means things are alright, things are under control, there are no problems.
That is just one of the stories of the origin of the word “OK”.
And then there is this story of how the word “Kangaroo”, the famous Australian creature, came about.
When the English settlers landed in Australia, they noticed a strange animal that jumped extremely high and far.
They asked the aboriginal people, using body language and signs, what this animal was called.
The aboriginal people responded with “Kan Ghu Ru”.
The English then adopted the word “Kangaroo” for that animal.
But what the aboriginal people was trying to say was trying to say with that word “Kan Ghu Ru” was that “We don’t understand you”. Just a story about how the “kangaroo” got its name.
Well, there are many words and phrases that we use often, most of which we understand the meaning, or at least we think we understand the meaning.
For example, when we say, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son…” we will immediately make the sign of the cross as well.
Hence, the sign of the cross and the invocation of the three Persons of the Trinity are closely related and have deep meaning in our Christian faith.
Through the scriptures, God has revealed Himself as One God, Three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Well, we will not be able to find that phrase “One God, Three Persons” in the Bible, or for that matter of fact, the word “Trinity” either.
These words came about from later reflections, and they also helped the ordinary people articulate their belief in the Trinity.
Yet, to make the sign of the cross and to say the Trinitarian Invocation, what are we saying? What are we doing? What are we meaning?
To begin with, it is a sacred invocation and a sacred sign.
We started the Mass with that sign and that invocation. We will also end the Mass in the similar way.
The meaning is this: by the sign of the cross we are saved because the cross of Christ is our salvation.
And with the sign of the cross, we enter into the heart of the Trinitarian God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
So, we have to make the sign of the cross reverently and respectfully.
We also need to say the invocation properly: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
And not just “Father, Son and Holy Spirit”.
Because the biblical meaning of the word “name” means “the presence” of a person, or even “the heart” of a person.
So with the sign of the cross and the Trinitarian Invocation, we enter into the presence and the heart of God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We may know this, but it might have become routine for us, and routine often results in the death of reverence.
Yet the sign of the cross and the Trinitarian Invocation is a powerful means of calling upon God’s help and protection.
Quite a number of us have the St Benedict’s medal, or at least we know what the medal is.
St Benedict is the Father of Western monasticism.
He is pictured on one side of the medal holding a cross with one hand.
Because it was with the sign of the cross and the Trinitarian Invocation that he evangelized Europe and converted the pagans.
To his left is a cracked cup. His enemies had poisoned the wine in the cup, but when St Benedict made the sign of the cross and the Trinitarian Invocation over it, the cup cracked, indicating that the wine was poisoned
To his right, is a raven carrying away a loaf of bread.
Again, his enemies had poisoned the bread, but when St Benedict made the sign of the cross and the Trinitarian Invocation over it, a raven came and carried the poisoned bread away.
So, on Trinity Sunday, we are reminded that the name of God, i.e. the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, is holy and we must use it respectfully and reverently.
With the name of God, and in the name of God, we call upon blessings for people, we begin our prayers, we ask for help and protection.
Hence, when we wake up in the morning, let us make the sign of cross and come into the presence of God: God the Father who created us, God the Son who saves us and God the Holy Spirit who guides and helps us.
When we retire for the day, let us make the sign of the cross as we rest peacefully in the heart of God who loves us and cares for us.
Let us also bless our children with the sign of the cross on their foreheads and in the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
That is because the first Christian symbol that we received at our baptism was on our foreheads, and it was the sign of the cross, which claimed us for Christ.
Jesus promised that He will be with us until the end of time.
May we be faithful to the cross of Christ, and may we live and love in the presence of our God, whose name is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.