There are certain advantages to being a priest.  Some things are just a bit easier.  One of these simpler tasks is picking out a wardrobe to wear each day.  As a priest I don’t have to spend a lot of time looking in my closet for clothes to wear and worry about color matching.  Each day I go to my closet and make the simple decision, “I think I’ll wear black today.”  Black shoes, black socks, black shirt and a little, white collar insert that points to the fact that I am a Roman Catholic priest are the simple choices of the day.  Why would I want to wear anything else?  These clothes proclaim to the world that I am a man of God, ordained to serve the Lord as a priest and proud to live the life of service and discipleship that the Lord has called me to.  The clothes that I choose to wear each day are symbolic.  They point to a reality beyond what is seen.

     Some priests are uncomfortable wearing clerical attire every day.  Many change into different clothes when they go out shopping or to any public place.  They are concerned that the clerical attire will make others uncomfortable or will cause others to treat them in some different way.  I have certainly found that to be true.  I have had some pretty interesting encounters with people when they see that I am wearing a clerical collar.  Some people have never seen a priest wearing clerical attire in public and are not sure how to behave.  Others become aware that they have not been as faithful as they should be in practicing their faith.  For some it brings out their kindness and generosity.  People react in different ways.  I think that the clothing that a priest wears should be a sign to people that God is near to them and that they should be more aware of his presence and their behavior.  The clothes of a priest should point to God and the Word of God among us.  I like wearing the clothing of a priest and I like the fact that it makes people a little uncomfortable.  I also like the fact that it reminds me constantly of who I am and what is most important to me; that it helps me realize my vocation.  My clothes don’t make me a priest, God’s grace does that, but they certainly can be an effective sign.

     Today’s gospel tells us that John the Baptist wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt about his waist.  The clothing that John chose to wear each day is significant.  His clothes identified him and pointed to a greater reality beyond what was visible.  John wore the clothes of a prophet.  Before he even opened his mouth to speak people would realize that he was a prophet.  The clothing that John wore was the same clothing that Elijah chose to wear (2 Kings 1,8).  To see that a prophet like Elijah was among them would remind the people that the Messiah also was not far away.  I would guess that John’s chosen dress made a lot of people uncomfortable.  Was John really the prophet Elijah?  Were people prepared for the coming of the Messiah?

     John came to prepare the way for Jesus.  He came to call people to repentance.  When people saw John in his camel’s hair outfit they knew that now was the time to get ready for the Lord’s coming.  One greater than John was coming after him and he was bringing fire.  Advent gives us that chance to prepare our hearts and our lives for the coming of the Christ once again into our world.  Now is the time to show a little good fruit in our lives.  If our faith hasn’t yet started to bear fruit we need to be concerned.  Fruitless trees get cut down and thrown into the fire.  Now is no time to be dead wood or empty chaff.  Don’t just produce good intentions and empty promises, now is the time for real deeds of repentance and true good works that point to the glory of God breaking into our lives.