Don we now.....

Colossians 3:12-17
As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

I'm sure you've heard the expression “clothes make the man!” What I am wearing reflects how I hope to behave...and what I intend to do. It also (whether I like it or not) can have a certain influence upon what others "think" of me.

There are certain articles of clothing that set the tone for a certain kind of activity. When I go camping I tend to grab that same pair of blue jeans, my T-shirt from Montana and that soft, gently worn flannel shirt. Wearing those favorites, I can get really dirty. I can stretch out on the ground or a log…walk carelessly through puddles and mud…eat anything I want with gusto.

The suit or blazer comes out when I am giving a presentation or teaching. Dressed more professionally I tend to sit more upright…and generally eat or drink with a lot more attention to possible messes. The clothes "make" me more formal. Others see a specific "message" that I intend to convey.

Think now of what it means when we "put on Christ". We don our holy apparel. We “put on Christ” when we are baptized, and people begin to see through our actions something about how we are made and the values we embrace. When we clothe ourselves as God’s chosen ones, we choose different behavior from the repertoire of possibilities than we would if we were acting solely from our “human” inclinations. Sometimes we act with humility and meekness even when our ego is crying for attention. Sometimes we offer forgiveness even when our hearts are still pulsing with the pain of being violated.

We, the baptized are fed and formed through word and sacrament. We become more "like" Love. Our eyes shine with a light of inner peace. Our hands communicate compassion and forgiveness, and our voices resonate with praise and thanksgiving…all the time, in all places.