clothes make the man
" 'My friend,' he said, 'how is it you came in here not properly dressed?' " —Matthew 22:12
To enter Heaven, we must wear the right clothes. We must have put on the Lord Jesus Christ and been clothed with holiness by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rm 13:14; Ps 132:9). "Because you are God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt mercy, with kindness, humility, meekness, and patience" (Col 3:12). "In your relations with one another, clothe yourselves with humility, because God 'is stern with the arrogant but to the humble He shows kindness' " (1 Pt 5:5). "Over all these virtues put on love" (Col 3:14). "You must put on that new man created in God's image, whose justice and holiness are born of truth" (Eph 4:24).
None of us can afford these heavenly clothes. Jesus paid for all our clothes. As He was stripped of His garments and hung naked on the cross, Jesus paid the price for our garments of righteousness. Just as animals die to provide leather and fur for clothing, so Jesus died to clothe us and cover our nakedness. "We yearn to have our heavenly habitation envelop us. This it will, provided we are found clothed and not naked" (2 Cor 5:2-3). Jesus, thank You for Your nakedness, suffering, and death.
Prayer: Father, turn me to Jesus and not to lust and sin.
Promise: "I announced Your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as You, O Lord, know." —Ps 40:10
Praise: St. Rose, once the beloved beauty of Peru, is now crowned with glory and clothed in splendor.
Reference: (To be clothed in holiness, read the Bible daily. For encouragement, order any or all of these audio or video tapes: Ignorance of Scriptures is Ignorance of Christ on audio AV 82-1 or video V-82, How to Pray the Bible on audio AV 82-3 or on video V-82, How to Read the Bible on audio AV 46-3 or on video V-46, Principles of Bible Interpretation, audio AV 79-1, video V-79.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 14, 2007
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