Jesus tells us we should be busy serving others and preparing for the coming of Jesus. We should be ready at all times for in this world we may meet Jesus sooner. So, he says, be ready always. Conduct yourself every day as if this journey on earth could be over the next minute. For it is true.
St Paul in Romans, our first reading, speaks of the body specifically. We are as baptized disciples of Christ now living for Jesus Christ. We are no longer aligned with the world and sin but now answer only to Jesus Christ. Sin and using our bodies for sinful things cannot be our way anymore. We should use our bodies for serving and loving and for righteous living.
This text flows from yesterday’s reading but he specifically warns against following acceptable world norms of how we act or dress or use our body. Now we are to present ourselves every day with the understanding that our bodies are our temples. Sacred bodies where the Holy Spirit can dwell.
What does that look like.
Truth is the same today as it was yesterday. What is right and good has not changed. And what is wrong and sinful has not changed.
Human behavior and how a Christian dress may follow modern styles to some extent but the body and how we behave is the same really.
A man or woman should dress knowing they are in a state of grace and communion with God. Our actions should not be vulgar or violent to others. Our dress should be modest and our best for the activity. This isn’t about fine linen as much as it is about presenting ourselves knowing we carry the Spirit with us.
Do we dress to show physical attributes or reveal more than we would in front of Jesus?
Our focus is no longer to present our sexuality or even to dress in rich fashion. For that would indicate our focus is now on the kingdom of God. Modesty is and always was key for the Christian man or woman. The body should be modestly covered. I know it sounds odd in our world where tight leggings and extreme cleavage display every inch of a body. But it is not how the follower dresses who is ready to present themselves to Jesus at any time.
Our bodies are holy to the Lord. They are beautiful and precious gifts we have been given.
A man or woman body is to be revealed only to their spouse. Showing all to the world everything as we walk down the street is not following St Paul’s advice at all and is not the way of righteousness. That is important for men and women.
It is no wonder that one of the favorite tools of the evil one is pornography and the internet.
We know now that the impact of pornography is so severe it causes physical changes to the brain and negatively impacts one’s ability to have healthy relationships with a spouse. We know this is true.
But pornography also includes scantily clad bodies. Revealing outfits. It may very well be acceptable for the world, but it is not acceptable for Jesus.
If we dressed each day, knowing we were going to face Jesus Christ face to face. How would we dress. How would we carry ourselves. I hope that we would dress modestly and not present a body dressed accentuating sexuality.
Most people do dress this way. But for those of us knowing we really don’t know when we will face our Lord, we know how we want to be seen. As faithful disciples who are using and dressing and behaving to present righteousness and truth and modesty.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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