SEARCH Journal

Liturgica: On Clothing

THE CENTRAL matters of Christian liturgy are always ordinary things heightened, made communally symbolic, enabling some participation in God. Consider what happens to bread, wine, water, fire, stories, singing as they are made the matter of Christian assembly. And note that biblical words or imagery often play a role in this intensification.

THE CENTRAL matters of Christian liturgy are always ordinary things heightened, made communally symbolic, enabling some participation in God. Consider what happens to bread, wine, water, fire, stories, singing as they are made the matter of Christian assembly. And note that biblical words or imagery often play a role in this intensification.

Much the same can be said for clothing. Our ordinary clothes provide a way to present ourselves in society. Then what we wear to church may offer an alternate, grace-filled way to reimagine self-in- community and so reimagine the world.

The New Testament is full of clothing. The demoniac, healed, sits with Jesus, “clothed and in his right mind.” The prodigal, returning, is wrapped in the best robe. There are also the metaphoric garments: we are urged to put on compassion, humility, love. And Paul says that all who have been baptized have already been clothed with Christ. Founding all these stories and images, Jesus is himself stripped of his garments in order to be shamed and killed for us all, in order to clothe the world in mercy.

* Full article available in printed copies.

Gordon W Lathrop

is a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, a retired professor of liturgy and former president of Societas Liturgica.