Recently, the archdiocese had released a guideline for proper dress attire in church. It emitted a lot of reactions from people. Different and opposing reactions. There are those who favor it and said that it is about time that we must implement discipline on how we dress for worship. There are those who claim it is discrimination and further reminded that God accepts you who you are and therefore, your manner of dressing is the least of God's worries.
Disciplinary measures are really very complicated and in some cases divisive. There will always be a good side and a controversial side. Accidents, compared to essences, are really disputable. But society or community has a sense for it. The communal sense and decision, not necessarily the majority, is a reflection of God's will if done in prayer, based on tradition, and facilitates action.
In the case of how one dresses for the occasion, particularly in church, it is not really a form of discrimination as to "exclude" those who can not meet the set standard. It is not also regarded as "necessary" for salvation though it is a reflection of ones attitude towards neighbor and God and therefore related in way, even small one, to salvation. It is not also for "showmanship" as to depict a congregation that is always ready for a "photo-op" or in case of possible "visitors", it will give the community a good and clean image.
Rather, it is a sign of deep respect for God and neighbor, readiness to worship, expression of the soul, and an inspiration rather than a distraction to co-worshippers. The standard is not necessarily in the quality, popularity, or value of the dress. It is in its proper to the occasion. Jesus had a parable using that situation. Of course, the stress was on salvation and the proper state of the soul before one can enter heaven. But the fact that he used it means that it is an accepted practice. If in our daily lives, we "dress for the occasion", like swimming gears for swimming, army uniform for soldiers, (expensive) gowns for evening parties, school uniforms, etc., then, is it not just proper that we should also dress for church worship? In fact, the more we have to be careful of how we present ourselves because it is God who we are meeting? Is it not true that we take extra care on how we present ourselves when we meet personalities in our lives? In fact, how we are dressed says a lot about who is that person to us.
In any case, while it is true that how our souls are "dressed" is the most important, in this world, how we dress our bodies, specially during worship, has its own importance.
Disciplinary measures are really very complicated and in some cases divisive. There will always be a good side and a controversial side. Accidents, compared to essences, are really disputable. But society or community has a sense for it. The communal sense and decision, not necessarily the majority, is a reflection of God's will if done in prayer, based on tradition, and facilitates action.
In the case of how one dresses for the occasion, particularly in church, it is not really a form of discrimination as to "exclude" those who can not meet the set standard. It is not also regarded as "necessary" for salvation though it is a reflection of ones attitude towards neighbor and God and therefore related in way, even small one, to salvation. It is not also for "showmanship" as to depict a congregation that is always ready for a "photo-op" or in case of possible "visitors", it will give the community a good and clean image.
Rather, it is a sign of deep respect for God and neighbor, readiness to worship, expression of the soul, and an inspiration rather than a distraction to co-worshippers. The standard is not necessarily in the quality, popularity, or value of the dress. It is in its proper to the occasion. Jesus had a parable using that situation. Of course, the stress was on salvation and the proper state of the soul before one can enter heaven. But the fact that he used it means that it is an accepted practice. If in our daily lives, we "dress for the occasion", like swimming gears for swimming, army uniform for soldiers, (expensive) gowns for evening parties, school uniforms, etc., then, is it not just proper that we should also dress for church worship? In fact, the more we have to be careful of how we present ourselves because it is God who we are meeting? Is it not true that we take extra care on how we present ourselves when we meet personalities in our lives? In fact, how we are dressed says a lot about who is that person to us.
In any case, while it is true that how our souls are "dressed" is the most important, in this world, how we dress our bodies, specially during worship, has its own importance.
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