Please read this passage before reading the homily.
My sisters and brothers,
St Paul speaks about clothes today, how we dress or will be dressed.
Our big film epics depict great and gigantic struggles against the forces of evil. In the final triumph, the heroes are clothed in new and bright robes, like great champions.
Boy Scouts wear the Scout uniform. Brides and grooms wear special clothes for their wedding day. In baptism we are dressed in a baptismal robe.
Priests wear special clothes to remind them of their sacred responsibilities. Professional people, contractors, builders, firefighters, medics, and police have special uniforms for their work.
We are aware of clothing and how we dress.
The story of Joseph in the book of Genesis is a story of clothing. Joseph is dressed by his father in an expensive tunic as a beloved son. He was undressed of this tunic when his brothers threw him into the well. He was dressed in a clean outfit when he explained Pharoah’s dream to him. He was dressed in robes of fine linen when he was promoted to be governor of Egypt. His clothes designated his status as favorite son, unfavorite brother, slave, prisoner, prophet, or governor. At death he was dressed for burial.
We dress up for special occasions. We dress down for other occasions. Our lives revolve around what we wear or don’t wear.
What will we wear for eternity? Right now, we wear corruptible clothing. Our clothing wears out and we get new clothes. Our bodies constantly replace old molecules for new so that we have replaced every molecule of our body every seven years.
This mortal body has to be dressed in immortality. This corruptible body by be dressed in incorruptibility. We must be clothed in the garment of salvation. Our death must be swallowed up in life; our sin must be replaced by grace. Our final dressing is the splendid clothing for the glory of God.