Now that the writer’s strike is on we are in for a long stretch of reruns, “very special” episodes, clip shows, reality programming, and awards shows.  During the last writer’s strike Letterman came out and had a barber give him a shave – which was just as funny as when Steve Allen did it on the “Tonight Show” back in the 50’s.  Of course we are already prepared for such entertainment fare.  We’ve already been trained to spend half an hour watching a show about whether or not Brittany shaved her head, and why.

            There may be some respite for us as the holiday season is near, and this year’s programs have already been taped. Also, starting Thanksgiving night we can watch NFL or BCS football 5 days a week.  But then, when after the Super Bowl, it will be the Awards Show season – the ASCAPs, the SAGs, the AMAs, the CMAs, the PPCs, the Grammys, the Golden Globes, The People’s Choice Awards, the Cleos, the Oscars, and the Westminster Dog Show – all preceded by the requisite red carpet, and the ubiquitous and persistent question thrust into each Celebrity’s face along with the microphone:

            “Who are you wearing?”

            “Well, Joan, this was hand picked for me by Donatella Versace.”

            “Yes, Melissa, I have this on loan from Valentino.”

            Thank you Jules, this is Dolce and Gabanna,

                        and Donna Karan,

                        and Loy and Ford,

                        and FUBU,

and thankfully NOT (since Cher and Nancy Reagan don’t get out much anymore) Bob Mackey,

and the stilettos are by Manolo,

and the bag is by Dior,

and the fabulous ring is by Bulgari,

and the watch is by Severin Wunderman.

            “Who are you wearing?” – “What a pointless, stupid, shallow question,” I have always thought.  It sounds like Donatella Versace is draped over someone’s shoulders (which, I hear, is often how she gets home in the morning - badumpbump – who needs TV when you’ve got the Manassas Signal!).  “What are you wearing?!” is often a pertinent question – especially if you’ve allowed a three year old little girl, or a full grown man dress themselves. But “Who are you wearing is one of those vapid, West-coast questions like “When can we do lunch?”, or “Who grooms your puggle?”

            Who are you wearing?!  WHO!!

Do you not know that as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ?  From now on there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free man, male or female, but you are all one in Christ Jesus.  Galatians 3.27-28

 Most of us much of the time wear something that identifies us as a Redskins fan, or a backer of Dale Jr., or an alumnus of Penn State, or an employee of Lockheed Martin, or an officer in the Marine Corps, or a citizen of the Hip-Hop Nation, or a bass fisherman. A use of clothing as important as functionality, and aesthetics, is the way we use clothes to identify us.  Paul says that the thing that should be most noticeable about us is Jesus – that Jesus is who makes us visibly different.

            He says more than that – he says that unlike the way other clothing divides us into distinct sets and subsets: wearing Jesus obliterates even the most basic distinctions that divide us.

            “Who are you wearing?” is not a pointless, stupid, shallow question at all.  It is the ultimate question.