A number of years ago, I was on vacation with my parents. We were camping, but Sunday morning was still Sunday morning. I put on a pair of dress pants and a nice shirt for Mass. I wasn’t wearing my Roman collar because I was on vacation, but I still wanted to dress appropriately for the occasion.

After Mass we stopped at a home improvement store to pick up a few things for the campsite. As I walked through the store, I remember thinking to myself, “I feel overdressed.”

I sometimes jokingly say that if you’re ever wondering whether you dressed appropriately for Mass, stop at a home improvement store after church. If you blend right in with everyone else, it might be worth asking whether you’ve dressed for an ordinary errand or for an encounter with the Lord.

Now, before anyone misunderstands me, this isn’t about judging people or criticizing what someone wears to church. We are always grateful when people come to Mass. Someone may be coming straight from work, traveling, caring for young children, or simply may not own dress clothes. God never turns away someone who comes seeking Him, and neither should we.

At the same time, it is worth asking ourselves a simple question: If I am able, what does my clothing say about where I am going?

We naturally dress differently for different occasions. We don’t usually wear the same clothing to a wedding, a job interview, or a formal celebration that we would wear while working in the yard. Our clothing says something about the importance of the occasion.

The Holy Mass is unlike any other event in our week. We come into the presence of Jesus Christ, truly present in the Holy Eucharist. We gather to worship the Father, to hear His Word, and to receive the Body and Blood of His Son. If we believe that, then it seems only natural that, whenever we are able, our clothing would reflect the dignity of the One we have come to meet.

This isn’t about fashion. It isn’t about wearing expensive clothes. It isn’t about imposing a dress code. It is about reverence. Our outward appearance can become one small expression of the love and respect we have for the Lord.

There will always be exceptions, and we should never assume we know another person’s circumstances. Someone may have come directly from work. Another may be visiting while on vacation. Someone else may simply be taking the first courageous step back to church after many years away. Every person who walks through our doors is welcome.

Perhaps the better question is not, “What is the minimum I can wear to church?” Rather, it is, “How can I honor the Lord with the best I can reasonably offer today?”

When our hearts are filled with love for Christ, even the simple act of preparing ourselves for Mass—including how we dress—can become an act of worship. After all, we are not simply going to church. We are coming to meet the Lord.