Clothing

 “I was naked and you clothed me.” – Matthew 25:36 (ESV) 

The usual way most of us clothe Jesus is by donating our used things to thrift stores or by buying something new for the church’s winter coat drive or by giving money to agencies that help neighbors who’ve been left naked in the world by hardship and injustice.  

But we can clothe Jesus in other ways, too. So many ways.  

Like when someone uncovers their weakness or sin to us, and we wrap them in mercy, healing, and peace. Or when someone comes to us stripped down to their hard-won truth, and we adorn them with affirmation and dignity. Or when someone lays bare to us their deepest fear, their suffering, need, or shame, and we don’t leave them exposed, but clothe them with presence, cloak them in love. 

Harvard Divinity School professor, Stephanie Paulsell, writes movingly about a time when she was naked. After losing a cherished pregnancy, she couldn’t work, read, or pray. But she could talk: 

“I wore out my friends,” she says, “especially Kay. The year before, Kay had left behind job, salary and colleagues to spend a year in prayer and silence. Violating her solitude again and again, I cried on the phone, ‘I am so depressed I can’t even pray. I try to pray, but I can’t.’ A few days later, a package arrived from Kay. It contained a simple beige jumper and a note that read, ‘I have prayed in this dress every day for a year. You don’t have to pray. Just wear it. It is full of prayers.’” 

“I did wear that dress,” Paulsell goes on. “I wore it and wept in it and cried out Why? to God in it. I let the prayers in that dress pray for me when my mouth was full of ashes. And when I became pregnant again, I continued to wear that dress.” 

So many ways. 

Prayer
Jesus, when did we see you naked and clothe you?

About the Author
Mary Luti is a long time seminary educator and pastor, author of Teresa of Avila’s Way and numerous articles, and founding member of The Daughters of Abraham, a national network of interfaith women’s book groups.