| Author, Gary Shirley, reminds us of the importance God
and the mass should play in our lives. He is not telling us
anything new. Most of us know we should give our Lord in the
Eucharist more time and attention. Shirley tells the story of a
man realizing he is sending mixed messages through the way he dresses.
For some of us it's our dress, for me, it's regularly arriving at church
just as the priest walks down the isle, leaving no time for prayer
before the mass. I'm sure you have your own "whatever." This article made me think. Shirley
also incorporates teachings from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
I enjoyed this article and hope you do as well. |
Andy looked in the mirror to give himself
the “once over” before
heading out the door to the most important event of his life. He
finally had his chance to interview with Zenon Industries.
Undoubtedly the finest company in his field, landing a job with
Zenon meant unlimited career possibilities coupled with great
security.
Andy had prepared for weeks to have all the right answers to
potential interview questions. He had splurged on a quality
business suit, Italian shoes and even a new briefcase. One thing
he had learned long ago was to always dress one level above the
position sought, so to project an image of promotability. Andy
was pleased with his preparations, his appearance and his
attitude. He was pumped, for this day was important and it
deserved his best effort. As he headed out the door, Andy’s
seven-year-old son Colin promised that he and Mom would pray for
Dad “all day long.”
The hiring staff at Zenon experienced an interview with a true
professional in top form. Andy did a stellar job. Driving home
after the interview he reviewed everything in his mind. He was
convinced that he came across well and that the job was as good
as filled. Andy’s confidence was soon rewarded, for on the
following Friday he got the call. Zenon offered a package he
could not believe. Besides a hefty raise and improved benefits,
he would get the hoped-for company car and a signing bonus. Most
definitely news worth celebrating.
Saturday brought a night on the town like he and his wife Karen
had never had in their lives. A five-star meal, expensive seats
at the theater, and dancing into the night. Everything was
perfect. All of his sacrifices in the past made this
accomplishment taste even sweeter. The future was bright and
portended great things.
Sunday dawned and Andy crawled out of bed still basking in the
glow of his good fortune. The family usually went to 10:45 Mass
so that they had a bit of time to relax before heading out the
door. Reflecting on his good fortune, Andy realized that the
most important thank-you was yet to come. God had given him a
golden moment and it was right to offer thanks in person.
Stopping at the same mirror he used for the “once over,” he
silently nodded his approval for his chosen Sunday Mass attire.
Andy had on his finest cutoff shorts, a T-shirt emblazoned with
the logo of his favorite sports team and his best sneakers.
Perfect. Once the Mass is over, Andy thought, we can roll right
into the day. Maybe we’ll have a “second celebration” of the new
job with the entire family...a stop at Macaroni Grill for lunch,
followed by ice cream. Hey, why not?
Enroute to church, Andy was feeling proud and grateful. He
commented to his wife how very important this Mass was, for
there was so much for which he needed to express gratitude.
Hearing his Dad express, once again, how important a coming
event was, Colin piped up with his usual, brutal candor.
“Daddy,” Colin said, “If Mass is important, just like the thing
you did the other day, how come you aren’t wearing that special
suit again? Doesn’t God like to see you dressed up too?”
Andy, the man with all the answers at Zenon, was speechless. In
his mind he ran through all the comebacks he could make. Excuses
like, “God only cares what is in our hearts” or “God isn’t
interested in outward appearance” or “God loves us no matter
what we wear” were lame and unconvincing. Colin had managed, in
his childhood innocence, to lay bare the truth. The boy’s
comment cut like a laser through the new hero of Zenon
Industries. God, quite simply, was not worth the effort. Andy
knew it was true. Zenon was worth a new suit, power tie and
Italian shoes. The Maker of the universe merited cutoffs and a
T-shirt. God got no better than the clothes that I would wear to
change the oil in my car, Andy thought. He realized that his
message was, “I am grateful, Lord, but not enough to raise you
above the everyday, so I’ll give thanks dressed like I just
mowed the lawn.”
Andy reflected on his week. He spent countless hours trying to
make sure that his clothes sent the right message. He had
“dressed for success.” Only his best effort would do for Zenon.
He imagined what would have happened if he had shown up at Zenon
in his cutoffs. Probably the same thing that would occur if he
met with a major client while donning his Speedo. If he knew
anything, Andy knew that clothes did indeed send a powerful
message. They say, in their silence, that, this event is worth
the effort. Andy realized that not only did he insult God with
his lack of effort, but he also sent the wrong message to his
little boy.
Upon arriving home from Mass, the humbled executive decided to
see just what the Church had to say about proper dress for Mass.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, he found such guidance
in the section devoted to the Eucharist, the “source and summit”
of our faith. He reflected upon the words, “Bodily demeanor
(gestures and clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity
and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.” (CCC
#1387) Andy found further insights in the section devoted to
personal modesty: “Modesty is decency. It inspires one’s choice
of clothing...it inspires a way of life which makes it possible
to resist the allurements of fashion and the pressures of
prevailing ideologies. Modesty...exists as an intuition of the
spiritual dignity proper to man.” (CCC #2522-24)
Powerful reminders. Ideas that are lost in America today, Andy
thought. The Church’s insights made him reflect upon his youth
when his whole family went to Mass in their “Sunday best.” To
appear in Church in anything less caused a scandal back then.
Sunday was special, it was important, and it was holy. What
happened? What have we done? Have we lost our sense of the
sacred? Have we now “casualized” our culture to the point of a
complete loss of decency? Is nothing set apart and sanctified?
Andy recalled reading a recent article on how businesses now
have several “levels” of casual attire to try and combat the
various interpretations that are creeping into the workplace.
Like many people in corporate America, he knew that once we
opened the Pandora’s Box of “casual” then everyone’s personal
interpretation had equal value, like it or not.
Andy reflected on the Catechism’s words and on the message he
sent to God, his fellow man and his son. Did his choice of
clothing convey respect for the Real Presence? Was he bending to
the “allurements of fashion” by pretending to honor God in his
finest cutoffs? Did he kowtow to the “prevailing ideologies” by
equating Sunday Mass attire with a morning of golf? Did the
virtue of modesty really disappear or was it just bludgeoned
into obscurity by a self-indulgent culture? Andy thought about
how ironic it was that his old company’s dress code prohibited
cutoffs and T-shirts, but somehow he decided God did not care.
It was hard to imagine the confusion he sowed in his son Colin’s
mind. Here was an impressionable little boy who idolized his
father. He was trying hard to understand how two events declared
“important” by Dad were treated so differently. The sad part is,Andy knew there was really only one important thing. In his
search for the proverbial “better life” he had forgotten its
Giver.
The following Sunday the family was assembling for Mass. As his
Dad rounded the corner to the kitchen, Colin spotted him and his
face was wrinkled up with confusion. “Dad,” he asked, “Why are
you are all dressed up? Do you have to go to work today?” “No,”
said Andy with a smile, “but I am going to have a long talk with my Boss and enjoy a banquet with Him. Ready to join me?”
About the author:
Gary Shirley, his wife, and three children are members of St.
Catherine of Siena Parish in Kennesaw, Georgia, where Gary
serves as catechist in the adult education program.
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