Doesnt Christ Himself encourage us to come as we are?In fact I believe there are at least 2 instances of people coming to Christ totally naked.Why,,there is even an early prophet described as preaching naked.Is the sin,in our dress?Or is the sin in how we view the person through our sinful eyes?Sounds like someone needs to remove the log from thier own eyes first.
He also said, “Go and sin no more.” He also said, “He that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
The Mass in based on reverence and respect. No one is stopping anyone from saying prayers naked in your bedroom. But I don’t; I even try to maintain a decent posture while praying.
Interestingly. casual and immodest dress is not much of a problem at our Latin Masses. Actually, no problem at all. Occasionally someone will show up obviously straight from work or another activity. But nothing immodest in the pews. Once, a lady with a low-cut blouse stayed in the vestibule through the Mass. That was the biggest “incident” we ever had.
Come as you are yes, but if one has time to show modesty, one should.
A Lutheran friend of mine related a story about a homeless man that came into the church one Sunday morning. He plopped himself on the floor between the pews near the pulpit. An elder member of the church noticed this and he being known as a very stern and strict adherent of his views, approached the man and all expected this elder to escort this person either out the door or to a seat. Neither happened, he plopped down on the floor, and sat with this man for the entire service. I am sure there is a lesson to be learned in this, don’t you think.