The camel’s hair

The preparation of the coming of Jesus is given unique importance by the person of John. His garment adds weight to this uniqueness as he was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He also fed on locusts and wild honey.

The camel’s hair reminds us also of poverty, simplicity and repentance. Poverty is called for not just in order to save for ourselves but in order to be mindful of the needs of others. In this year’s poverty, we must lead ourselves to helping the more needy ones. Simplicity is a challenge as it is more fitting in this time of constraints in many aspects. It is this simplicity that must deepen our sense of the presence of the Lord in our hearts. It is the Lord who can only give meaning to our need of his constant love, instead clinging to the ephemeral. Repentance makes us realize to give up those which are not necessary in our journey toward perfection. It is this repentance that this crisis brings us so that we may all the more accept our need of God in our lives.

May the camel’s hair make us more like John the Baptist preparing for the dwelling of the Savior in our hearts.