The Shape of the Cross:

The cross is an instrument of torture but to us it is has become an instrument of our salvation and redemption and the cross has become a symbol of our faith throughout the world.
We cannot talk about Jesus without talking about the cross
At our Baptism the Priests says, “I sign you with the cross the sign of Christ” then the Priest signs the forehead of those being baptised with the cross. Do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified”
At our confirmation the Bishop Says, “I sign you with the sign of the cross and I lay my hand upon you.” Lord, confirm and strengthen with your Holy Spirit this your child and empower them for your service.
At the Admission of new converts the Bishop says receive Christ in your heart and take up his Cross.
At the confession the priest makes the sign of the Cross to the congregation as he absolves the congregation from their sins.
At the ordination service of a Deacon the Bishop says receive the Holy Spirit for the office and work of a deacon in the Church of God: in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
At the Ordination of a Priest the Bishop says receive the Holy Spirit for the Office and work of a priest in the Church of God, now committed to you by laying on of our hands. Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; whose sins you retain, they are retained. Be a faithful minister of the word of God and of his holy sacraments: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
At the Consecration of a Bishop, the Archbishop says to the new Bishop, receive this cross; remember that he who you serve reconciled us by his own blood.
At the end of the service the priest signs the congregation with the cross for traveling mercies, when Cain had killed Able God put a sign on his fore head, lest anyone should kill him at sight. So, for Christians the cross is the mark that we belong, and we protected by God and that God watches over us.
Just like a farm animal Christians have been branded with the initials of Christ the cross. So that those that meet us or meeting this farm animal will know that it belongs to so and so, in our case the cross says to the world we belong to Jesus Christ.  We are not ashamed to Proclaim him. Christians are branded with the Cross. We say at out Baptism, do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ Crucified. Fight valiantly under the banner of Christ against sin, the world and the devil and continue his faithful soldiers and servants to the end of your lives.  We called to carry the cross every day. Jesus says we should take up our cross and follow him. We do not just carry the cross on Sundays but every day of our lives, there is not time that we are not Christians and there is no time that we are not witnessing for Christ. St Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1 vs 18, “The Message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the learned I will set aside.”  He goes further to say, “For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength”. (1 Corinthians 1 vs 18-25)
Fr. Barnabas Sibusiso Nqindi MA (Rector)
.