Monday, August 17, 2009

Dress This Way, Look the Other Way?

Case in Point

Rant:

This past Saturday was the Feast of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven. It was also my 2nd cousin's wedding. Before going to into the church building, I put on my shoulder wrap, covering up my nearly bare back and arms. Mom had a fit saying "God doesn't judge! God doesn't judge that way!" While I cannot bear Scriptural proof that God would or would not judge me for how I go dressed to Mass, I follow a few simple points. One of them being that when I enter the House of God, I'm literally standing before Him in the Tabernacle (albeit, Veiled in wheat). When I was working, I had to be dressed properly for the position. If you dress well for a mere mortal you call boss, how much more should you dress for the one you call Master and Saviour? You should give Him your best because He gave you His All.

I also dress formally for Mass (business casual or interview worthy) because I know how distracting casual and informal dress is: I don't want to see tattoos or bikini tan lines, or g-string triangles. If others (men and women) are distracting to me, how more so am I for someone else? Chapel veils help shield my side vision from other distractions, and I can reasonably assume that I'm not contributing to someone's near occasion of sin.

What's your reaction / opinion?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for saying this. Many of us men struggle with lust enough. I've often wondered whether certain women consider this before they dress for Mass. It's great to see that you do.

Hidden One said...

I tend - in such things - to make the analogy as if the king of Belgium was sitting on the tabernacle (as his throne). People are much more willing to show respect to a foreign king of a comparably insignificant country that hasn't done anything to tick them off than they are to show respect to Christ.

In short, I'm with you on this one.