You need both to be a Christian (Jen Arnold)

   There is no doubt that the cross is the most recognized symbol of Christianity. It symbolizes what our Lord endured for us, what we carry, and our hope for salvation. There is so much meaning wrapped up in this one symbol of our faith. Not by coincidence, the cross is made up of two beams of wood – one vertical and one horizontal. The vertical beam symbolizes your relationship with God while the horizontal beam represents your relationship with others. You need both to form a cross. You need both to be Christian. 

   We use the vertical beam to represent our relationship with God because we are inferior and He is all-supreme. We look up at Him while He lovingly looks down upon us. We reach for heaven while He extends His mercy and grace down to us. This vertical relationship illustrated in the cross is a beautiful thing to imagine. We need to put effort strengthening that vertical relationship. We do this by praying to God every day and listening to how He speaks back to us, just as we would in any other relationship. We need to frequent the Sacraments and receive His grace in all the ways He has offered to us. We need to go to Mass to hear His Word in Scripture and receive His Body in the Eucharist. This vertical relationship is not passive... 

   The horizontal beam represents our relationship with others. We know that we make up the Body of Christ and that we are all connected to one another on this horizontal plane. Everything we do affects the rest of the parcels on that beam. When we sin, it affects our neighbor. When we are charitable and loving, it also affects our neighbor. Again, this relationship between persons is not passive. Christians are called to action. Remember the corporal acts of mercy in Mahew 25:35-40 where Jesus tells us to do things like feed the hungry, clothe the naked and visit the imprisoned. He reminds us that, in doing these things for the least of our brothers, we are doing them for Him. We honor Jesus Christ by being in the right relationship with our neighbor and thereby strengthening our horizontal beam. 

--Jen Arnold
 

Image source 1: https://www.equip.org/hank-unplugged-podcast-and-shorts/the-sign-of-the-cross-the-symbol-the-history-the-mystery-with-andreas-andreopoulos/
Image source 2: Mezuzah, Dove with Olive Branch with Adorned Hoshen, https://www.holyshroudfragrance.com/p-4959-mezuzah-dove-with-olive-branch-with-adorned-hoshen-blue.aspx. A mezuzah is a small scroll of parchment contained withing a decorative box. The Shema Yisrael is one of the texts inscribed on the scroll. Traditionally, the mezuzah is affixed to the doorpost at the entrance of a Jewish home to remind them of their love for the Lord God.
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