17c — Camel Hair and Locusts
John Used Camel Hair and Locusts —
John the Baptist was a unique individual with a special calling from God. He prepared people for Jesus’ coming.
1) He preached and baptized seekers of God in the desert.
2) His clothing was natural camel hair tied with a leather belt.
3) His meals consisted of locusts and wild honey.
Whereas camel hair and locusts are now considered stylish and gourmet, John the Baptist used them for simple survival so that he could devote himself to serving God. Camel hair kept him protected from extreme temperatures of hot and cold in the desert. Locusts dipped in honey provided needed nutrients.
Interesting Facts About Camels
Camels shed their outer coats once a year in late spring. This is how it works:
Sections of hair that look like brown wool pull away from their skin and drop to the ground over a six week period. This process is called molting.
The fallen hair is gathered by hand, sorted, cleaned, spun into yarn, and then woven into fabric. Each camel produces around five pounds of hair a year.
Fun Locust Recipes
Locusts, grasshoppers, and crickets are eaten in many parts of the world and are considered a good source of protein. One common way of preparing them is to remove the head, wings, and legs, then rinse the insect bodies in water, and fry them in butter until crisp.
If you are not quite so adventurous, though, think about creating your own sweet version of “locusts” using candy bars, pretzels, and pecans. Just follow these easy-to-read instructions provided by Annie at Catholic Cuisine:
http://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2010/06/st-john-baptist-locusts-and-honey.html
Enjoy!
My Prayer
Dearest Father, Thank you that John the Baptist was unique. Thank you that I am unique. You used him. Please use me. Thank you. Amen.
