My Sunday Best

I have always prided myself in being strong-willed, and knew when my (also strong-willed) husband and I started having children, we would be cursed blessed with some strong-willed children.

One situation where my strong-willed behavior comes out is when anyone discusses church attire.  Usually, those I’ve spoken with have argued we are going to God’s house; historically, my response has been, “God knows what is in my heart, so He doesn’t care if I show up in jeans.”

A couple months ago, I attended Mass on a cold, wet, rainy Sunday morning.  I was anticipating spending the early afternoon watching someone graduate from a program at a major university.  Since I had to “dress up” for a rainy graduation, which included walking quite a way in heels, I opted to cover myself up and wear my comfy jeans, my sweater, and tennis shoes to church.

I didn’t think much about my attire.

At least, not until I headed up the aisle for Communion.

As I walked up the aisle, in my jeans, with the veil on my head,  I started wondering why I was willing to dress nicely in a skirt, sweater, and heels for the commencement ceremony, but I couldn’t seem to bother dressing that nicely for God.  Or, for Jesus, who is present in front of me, literally every. single. Sunday.  I also noted the stark contrast between the veil out of respect for Our Lord (which I previously blogged about), and how my clothes did not appear to follow through on that devotion.  I almost didn’t receive Communion that day, simply because I was wrestling with my internal dialogue, instead of focusing on receiving Christ.

Since that Sunday, I have gradually paid more attention to putting thoughts behind what I choose to wear to church on Sundays.  Yet, I haven’t been able to articulate my thoughts on why people should wear a Sunday Best.

That is, until I saw a blurb in our church bulletin last weekend:

The full weight of the first bullet point hit me in the middle of my gut.  For the first time, I truly understood the reason it is emphasized to wear one’s finest.

I used to dress in my finest to go to job interviews.  A week in court, in front of a judge, would see me in my finest 3-5 days in a row.  To go on dates with my husband, I have worn my finest.  To go to “mandatory fun” events, I wear my best clothes.

But to visit God in His house?

God got my lazy day clothes.

And, I wonder how fair is that to God?

If I am to put Him first in my life, and I am to truly believe He is present in the Mass and at the Eucharistic table, should I not want to give Him my best?

Should I not want to look my best for Him?

While God is not my future employer, I do hope and pray one day I will live with Him eternally.  So, should I not want to do everything I can to show Him I want to be in Heaven?

Therefore, while I don’t anticipate blogging about church attire too frequently, I decided to link up with Rosie Hill at A Blog for My Mom’s “My Sunday Best, Vol. 14”  this week, to embrace this newfound line of questioning I have been pondering for the better part of 3 months.

I hope you’ll check out her series, and some other bloggers, who do make it a point to inspire others to wear their Sunday Best!