What to Wear?

Each week, THE WORD THIS WEEK presents an excerpt from Fr. Smiga’s homily archive. To access all of the homilies for this Sunday, click on the link

2012 – Anyone who has ever watched the Academy Awards ceremony from Los Angeles knows that the first phase begins on the red carpet. There, bevies of media reporters try to stop the stars for an interview as they walk towards the auditorium. In the few minutes that they are able to detain the celebrities before they invariably move away, they always ask one question: “Who are you wearing?” The reporters want to know the name of the designer who fashioned the dress or tuxedo that the movie star has chosen. Knowing the name is important because the person who fashioned your clothing indicates your star power and reveals in an intimate way something about your person.

The prophet, Baruch, in today’s first reading knows of this association. Baruch is writing to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Their condition is dismal. And it is in that miserable situation that Baruch tells them to change their clothing. He directs them to put off their robe of mourning and misery and to be clothed in the splendor of God. He tells them to wear on their heads a miter which bears the eternal name of God. So, if someone were to ask the Jewish exiles “Who are you wearing?” Baruch would want them to answer, “We are wearing God.”

What to Wear?

This discussion guide has been generated by the WORD THIS WEEK’S Catholic AI Assistant based on Fr. Smiga’s homily.

Opening Questions:

1. The question “Who are you wearing?” typically asked on red carpets at awards shows, relates to the designer of one’s attire, symbolizing luxury, identity, and status. In a sermon context, it could be interpreted as, “Who or what is defining you?” or “What spiritual attributes are you embodying?”

2. The phrase “being clothed in the splendor of God” evokes images of divine beauty and grace enveloping a person. It might bring feelings of comfort, dignity, and a profound sense of being valued or elevated by something greater than oneself.

Understanding Context:

Clothing in both the Academy Awards and Baruch’s message signifies identity and status. At the Oscars, attire can reflect a person’s success and social standing. Similarly, Baruch’s imagery urges the exiles to don spiritual garments that reflect their new identity and status as God’s people, moving away from mourning to celebration.

For the Jewish exiles in Babylon, the idea of changing their “clothing” could have been deeply symbolic. Living in a foreign land, away from their homeland and temple, the change of clothing represents a hopeful shift from sorrow to a promise of restoration and divine favor.

Reflecting on Baruch 5:1-9:

The instruction to change from “robes of mourning” to “clothed in the splendor of God” signifies a transformation from grief to hope and joy. For the exiles, it symbolizes a renewed relationship with God and the anticipation of returning to their homeland.

Being “clothed in God” is crucial in overcoming personal trials as it suggests being enveloped in God’s strength, wisdom, and peace, providing resilience and courage during difficulties.

Relating to Personal Experiences:

There may be moments in life where challenges seem overwhelming, and a person seeks solace and strength in their faith. During such times, clinging to God’s promises and power can provide the needed assurance and courage.

This metaphor can offer hope by reminding individuals that they are surrounded by divine love and strength, which empowers them to face adversities with confidence.

Exploring Doubt and Faith:

Doubts about God’s sufficiency often arise from experiences of suffering, unanswered prayers, or feeling distant from God. Addressing these doubts involves deepening one’s prayer life, seeking communal support, and reflecting on past experiences of divine support.

In times of questioning God’s ability to support, revisiting scripture, engaging in supportive conversations with others, and recalling past situations where faith was affirmed can aid resolution.

Christian Dimension and the Incarnation:

The concept that God “put on us” through the incarnation highlights God’s profound commitment to humanity and understanding of the human experience. This reinforces the idea that God is intimately involved in human life and empathetic to human struggles.

The statement “We are wearing God because God first chose to wear us” suggests a deep, reciprocal relationship between humanity and divinity, emphasizing mutual commitment and partnership in the journey of life.

Applying the Message:

To actively “robe oneself in God’s glory,” one might engage in regular spiritual practices, such as prayer, meditation, or scripture reading, especially during tough times. Practicing gratitude, serving others, and participating in community worship can also ensure one remains spiritually clothed.

What to Wear?

This 300 word adaptation of Fr. Smiga’s homily was generated by our Catholic Assistant AI bot, to help preachers share key insights from the homily with children and teens.

Hey everyone! Let’s talk about what we “wear” spiritually. You know how at big events like the Oscars, people ask celebrities, “Who are you wearing?” They’re talking about their designer clothes, which show a lot about who they are.

There’s a prophet named Baruch who understood clothing could mean more than just fabric. When the Jewish people were having a tough time in Babylon, Baruch told them to change their clothes—not literally, but to swap their bad vibes for the greatness of God. Imagine wearing something that stands for positivity and hope. Baruch wanted them to say, “We’re wearing God’s love and strength.”

Our faith is like that, too. When we wrap ourselves in God’s promises, we’re ready to face life’s ups and downs. Whether it’s drama at school, feeling left out, or not fitting in, dressing yourself in God’s glory makes a difference. It gives us strength and hope for whatever comes next.

But this isn’t always easy. Sometimes we wonder if God’s ‘outfit’ is what we need, like having the patience to deal with family or the strength for tough times. We might question if God really has our back.

Here’s where Jesus helps. A thinker named Julian of Norwich imagined Jesus wearing our human-ness like an old, comfy tunic. This means God knows and understands our struggles because Jesus became one of us. Jesus wearing ‘us’ means God isn’t leaving when things get hard.

So, we can boldly ‘wear’ God’s love and strength. The next time someone asks why you seem positive or strong, you can say, “I’m wearing God because God chose to wear me first.” What a cool answer!

DISCLAIMER: Adaptations (like translations), may not fully capture the nuances or precise meanings of the original text. It’s essential to read the original homily which can be accessed by clicking on the title above

Take Out the Trash

In most households, this would be the time of the year to get some major heavy-lifting stuff done. As the adults attempt to clear up their remaining leave for the year and the children get time off from their studies, and everyone’s preparing to put up the Christmas decorations, they would take this opportunity to do some Christmas shopping for gifts and new clothes, bake cookies for the upcoming festivities and do some needed spring cleaning. Although these may seem like secular or practical customs bereft of theological meaning, they may have some basis in scripture and the underlying theme for Advent, especially for this Sunday.

A Voice Calls Out in the Wilderness

Pope St Paul VI famously wrote: “The history of salvation is being accomplished in the midst of the history of the world.” This is what we see in today’s gospel passage – the convergence between human history and salvation history – between man as a subject of time and God who is Master of time.

St Luke provides us with a list of historical and political luminaries at that material point in time, teasing the reader to think that he is about to provide us with another account of world history. But then the evangelist swiftly shifts our attention to a seeming nobody “John son of Zechariah”, whose ministry and teaching now provides us with the foundation for the climax of salvation history – the coming of the Messiah.

The reason why St Luke weaves both threads into his narrative is to show us that the story of salvation history does not take place in a vacuum, as something totally separated from human history, but as Pope St Paul VI asserts: “the history of salvation is being accomplished in the midst of the history of the world.” God who is not bound by time and space chooses to enter our time and space at this very moment and in this very spot – the unnamed wilderness in an insignificant part of the Roman empire, away from the centres of power and influence.

God Broke His Silence

Have you ever felt unworthy or even intimidated when you are in the company of far more distinguished personages?  Well, I have. I cringe whenever I hear the bio-data of others being read out. My list pales in comparison. I’m almost always tempted to crawl back into my little hole of anonymity and believe that no one would notice my absence in the room.

St Luke’s introduction of the ministry of St John the Baptist in today’s gospel may have a similar impact. He prefaces the ministry of the Baptist by listing down both political and religious luminaries of that time – from the august Emperor of Rome, to his representative in Judaea, to the still formidable puppet rulers of the empire in the vicinity, and then to the heads of the religious hierarchy in Jerusalem. The mention of the Baptist’s name seems to be deliberately left to the last, with the effect of the audience asking, “Who’s that?”

But unlike my reaction to being compared to other more distinguished persons, St John the Baptist seems unconcerned with the comparison. The reason is that he recognises that he is not the protagonist or the central character of the story. “It’s not about him.” Similarly, my friends often remind me, “Get over it! It’s not about you!” For John, it was all about the message. It was all about the event and the figure which he had been sent to announce. John’s mission was to prepare the way for God’s Anointed King who would come to establish God’s rule above all other kings and authorities. Quoting from the prophet Isaiah, St Luke lays down for us the significance of this event: “all mankind shall see the salvation of God” (Isaiah 40:5; 52:10).