Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, May 3, 2026
It’s time. The forecast is telling us we’ll experience 82° weather this weekend. It’s true that it’s also predicting a high of 61° five days later, but that must not distract us from the urgent need to climb the fold-down stairs to the attic and to bring down the bins marked, “SUMMER CLOTHES.”
We’ll empty those bins, then fill them with our thicker, warmer clothing, turn around the labels so they read, “WINTER CLOTHES,” and tuck the bins back in the attic. Since I love a play on words, I was pleased to realize that this could be described as our semi-annual “Changing of the Garb”!
And yes, this makes me think of Jesus. Except the scenario I’m thinking of as described in the Bible, several times and in several ways, is not a semi-annual event. Consider this drama from the Old Testament:
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”
Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.
Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.”
And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by. (Zechariah 3:1-5)
I remember the first time I read those verses. I took them personally. (I still do!) I was Joshua. Satan was accusing me of my sins, and the Lord was rebuking him, taking away my sins, clothing me with the rich robes of His righteousness. I cannot read this story without smiling wide.
Now consider this slice of a drama from the New Testament. It’s a well-loved story because it’s full to overflowing with the immense love of a forgiving father for a vastly undeserving son.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’
“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. and bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:17-24)
Again, I cannot help but “be merry” myself at this picture of God! Here we see, not a Father who holds Himself aloof from us, arms crossed, face frowned, disapproving of our bad behavior, but a Father whose eyes are searching for us, whose heart is yearning for our return. He runs toward us, and interrupts our prepared speech in order to call for us to be clothed in “the best robe.”
I love all the stories in the Bible that describe this “changing of the garb.” God reassures us over and over that we don’t, we can’t, earn the change of clothes (heart) we need. It’s all gift.
Isaiah helps us respond to such amazing grace:
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
My soul shall be joyful in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
(Isaiah 61:10 NKJV)