Word of the Week

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Put on: Enduo (GK.): meaning, “to put on as in clothing”, or “to sink into clothing; array yourself in cloth.”

There are 12 paragraphs devoted to the phrase “put on” in the CCC. Among these paragraphs, stands Paul’s description of the early liturgical practice where the neophytes “put on” a white cloth symbolizing their purity in Christ (cf. wow on baptized). Metaphorically speaking, as the CCC notes, Paul challenges us to “put on” the pure garment of the new man in virtue and put away the dark cloth of the old man in sin (cf. CCC, 1227, 1243, 1425, 1473, 2348, 2475).

The aforementioned enduo can be found twenty six times in the New Testament. The gospels speaks to it in a more general sense as being arrayed with clothing (cf. Mt.6:25, 27:31, Mk.1:6, 6:9, 15:17-20; Lk.12:22, 15:22). As noted above, Paul used this term with a very specific intent to communicate a deeper theological reality. In fact, it was a favorite phrase of Paul when challenging the early Christian faithful to live out their baptismal call to purity and holiness in Christ. We see Paul draw this out as it relates specifically to law and relationship.  Paul, Steeped in the Old Testament, points out that the Old Covenant law by circumcision is transformed in Christ to the New Covenant law of Baptism (cf. Col.2:11-12). This new law inaugurates a new way of life and consequently leads to the new man created in the image and likeness of God. This new man has the very specific call to “put on the armor of light…in the Lord Jesus Christ” with a sense of urgency as Satan tries to lure us with the enticements of the flesh (cf. Rom.13:12-14; Eph.4:24; Gal.3:27; Col.3:10-12). Consequently, when you wear Christ wherever you go you “put on” incorruption (1 Cor.15:53-54).

As already noted, the cloth of Christ is about wearing the garment of purity, but it is also about dressing ourselves in simplicity. If we are to “put on” Christ as a child of God then our lifestyle ought to reflect the Christ child. Jesus came into this world without the fanfare or opulence like that of a material king, but in the quiet and austerity as someone who came to serve. For this reason, our Christian identity must be rooted in the simple, day to day details that are made to become sacramental. I urge all readers of this bulletin to put on the armor of simplicity, and at the same time live as a new man in Christ.

“This is what is fulfilled in Baptism: we put on Christ, he gives us his garments and these are not something external. It means that we enter into an existential communion with him, that his being and our being merge, penetrate one another.”

--Pope Benedict XVI

Primary Texts Consulted

•  Catholic Bible. Suggested trans. Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
•  Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition, 1997.

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