How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?

In today’s gospel we can read this sentence: When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment, and said to him: “How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?”, and the man was silent.

Have you ever thought that each Mass is kind of a wedding ceremony between Christ and His bride – the Church which is us? The Holy Scripture mentions this fact so many times. For example, St. Paul in his second letter to the Church of Corinth (ch.11:2+) describes Christ as a husband and the Church as a bride when he wrote: I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God; I betrothed you to one husband, to Christ, as a chaste virgin. And again, in his letter to the Ephesians (ch.5:31+) you can read: a man will leave his father and his mother and will cling to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is an enormous mystery – and I am speaking of it with reference to Christ and to the Church.

Paul is speaking on two levels, about the relationship between a man and his wife but also about the heavenly union between Christ and His bride – the Church. Can you imagine that during each Mass in some mysterious way, we are brought into a marriage union with Christ?

So, how should we dress when we are coming on Sunday for the Holy Mass, if the Mass is some kind of mysterious wedding ceremony between Christ and us? How should we dress for this wedding here? I’m sure that this question just opened a big and not easy deliberation in your minds.

At first sight, something tells us that we have just two options in this case: 1) more respectful clothes – I mean our Sunday Best or 2) a casual trend which is more authentic which means true to ourselves.

But if I want to be honest with you then I have to say that from a biblical standpoint, there is no compelling exegetical case to be made that more formal dress is de facto more respectful toward God than casual dress. Church clothing is a preference formed by culture and tradition.

On the other hand, the casual trend – I mean – “authenticity” is the most popular answer. We are coming to God as we are, putting on no airs or masks with Him.

In my opinion it sounds good, but I don’t really buy it. Wearing casual clothes for the Mass is no more de facto spiritually authentic than formal clothes are de facto spiritually respectful. We might not be at all authentic standing before God in our jeans. In other words, we may wear casual clothes to church and worship God with our lips, while our hearts are far from Him.

What is best for Sunday Mass?

Well… here is my – and just one – very good reason why I don’t think it matters what we wear in church, followed by two biblical rules for appropriate clothing, not just in church, but anywhere.

St Peter wrote in his first letter: Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (ch.5:5)

What are we supposed to wear in the church? Humility. All clothing – formal, casual, work, sport, beachwear, sleepwear, underwear, every other kind of wear – can be a source of great pride or arrogance. There isn’t a clothing item or style that we can’t turn into an expression of self-centred, self-exalting, self-worship. But if we clothe ourselves with humility, if we count others more significant than ourselves, and look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others, then no matter how we dress, we will honour and reflect Christ (Philippians 2:3–4).

So, let’s not fool ourselves. If we are not walking with Christ and living in Christ and listening to Christ and following the example of Christ, how we dress is the least of our worries. BUT if we are looking to Jesus, listening to Jesus, learning from Jesus and seeking to live life like Jesus, we will wear robes of righteousness and our outer clothing will reflect our Christ centred priorities (Revelation 3:14-19).

Right… What about these two biblical rules for appropriate clothing, not just in church, but anywhere? Well…

The first principle concerns immodesty. Anything that emphasizes our sexuality is inappropriate for anyone but your spouse. And this goes for men as well as women. Holy Mass is not a swimming pool or beach. Please think about it!

The second principle says: always point to Jesus! In church, at home, at work, anywhere – the bottom line is this – always wear what helps you think more about Jesus and less about yourself – AND – what will help others do the same. I would even say strongly: think much more about others / don’t cover Jesus by your inappropriate clothes / don’t distract others / help them to find God in church!