Many people are familiar with the gestures that accompany the prayer, “The Sign of the Cross,” but another little prayer that is said at the celebration of Mass can be accompanied by a little gesture. The priest or deacon announces the proclamation of the gospel— “A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark”— and the congregation responds, “Glory to you, O Lord.” At the same time, the people can make a small sign of the cross with their finger, first on their forehead, then on their lips, then on their chest, as they say, “May the word of Christ be always in my mind, on my lips, and in my heart.”
That is a little prayer but it is full of valuable implications. Like many things, prayers can become habitual and automatic and thereby lose some of their impact. Let’s consider that gospel prayer and how it could help us.
“May the word of Christ be always in my mind,” is a wonderful request. Talk about a good reference place to go for holiness and peace! The word of Christ is informative, loving, and dependable. When we have doubts or challenges or even questionable temptations, remembering the word of Christ (which we know can be always found in Sacred Scripture) can keep us on the path to good spirituality. Jesus’ wisdom and instruction can give us practical answers.
And if the word of Christ is on our lips, we are ready to spread his good news to others. We all do a lot of talking and texting, and much of it is about daily tasks, mundane concerns, and can be quite opinionated. What if we were to interject gently a few of the loving words and teachings of Jesus—without our sounding like strict preachers? What if we offered kind words and gave loving suggestions to life’s problems? What if we stretched our lips into smiles and lowered the temperatures caused by controversies, rivalries, or frustrations?
If the word of Christ is in our hearts, it becomes a part of our true selves. We can feel the unity with Christ. We can be inspired by his Holy Spirit. We can be united with our generous, self-sacrificing Redeemer and feel the joy of pure selflessness. We can love ourselves and others much better! Our priorities can be ordered correctly and lovingly.
Be attentive, be open, be faithful to the word of Christ! Practice makes perfect, or so the adage goes!
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The photograph is from The Catholic Weekly of the Archdiocese of Sydney, Australia.
Sharon Krause is a RENEW volunteer whose writing has appeared in several resources for small-group faith sharing. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother residing in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. Over the years, she has served in many parish ministries.