Thomas 1:36 … Never a worry (12/07/16)
“Do not be anxious, from morning to evening and from evening to morning, about what you will wear.” ~ Jesus (Thomas 36)
The true depth of this verse can best be comprehended by realizing that there are many ways in which we are “clothed” (e.g. Matthew 6:25 & Romans 13:14 & Colossians 3:12 et al) …
First and foremost, we are sometimes clothed by clothes for warmth &/or protection, and this verse reminds us that we need never do so out of fear for injury or frost; that those who live their lives for Love will automatically be immersed into the lives they Love – and that immersion provides its own measure of protection & warmth.
Secondly, we are often (at least in the First World) clothed by a sense of “style” – to be perceived as beautiful by others and thereby welcomed into their fold. In this vein this verse reminds us that such worries, too, can be easily tossed aside – that those who appreciate us for such superficialities are not those who will ever truly Care for us in times of need; that it is always better to have Faith in the omnipresent Goodness of those many who still refuse to judge a book by its cover, much less judge a person by the quality or effect of their coverings.
Thirdly, we are in every moment subconsciously “clothed” by the imprintings of our younger days – “clothed” by the emotional memories from our childhood, by the ways we dealt with our traumas & our wounds – and “clothed” by the individual personality that developed as a result. And here too this verse in-Courages us to have Faith – to know that we need never be anxious about revealing the gentle, noble, vulnerable Beings we truly are; that defense mechanisms are for the weak – and that “self defense” is only for those who will be ultimately vanquished. No, we are to have Faith instead – Faith in our innate Goodness; Faith in our ability to thrive on Love after tossing aside our fears; Faith in the True Self within us (the true Child of God) who has already survived traumas disastrously painful; Faith in our ability to let go of fear and let Love rule again.
And fourthly & finally, our Souls are “clothed” not only by a fleshly body, but also by a radiant Spirit – and as such, this verse reminds us that it is always Wise to sacrifice the former to let the latter shine forth bright and true.
Amen … Let it be so.
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