Weekly Special Invitation
When little girls gather to play their special kind of fun called dress up, they wear Mom’s hat and gloves, carry her purse, and pretend to be all grown up. If you ask them why they are all dressed up, they will tell you they got an invitation to a special event. It might be an imaginary tea party or a princess wedding. But of course, they want to appear in their very best which also probably includes a left over prom dress from another era. They even not only look wonderful, most especially in their own eyes, but in reality they are adorably beautiful.
When little girls grow up, they continue to get invitations to very special events, for which they may be lucky enough to get sparkling new shoes which fit, instead of Mom’s high heels from you know when! The new dress may be a trendy new outfit or a traditional beautiful gown.
When the young ladies turn into ladies or Moms or other special ladies, they keep on getting invitations. And now they look for comfortable or stylish things that fit the special occasion.
When I get a special invitation, it most always requires what I call the most important thing I wear and that is a hat.
I get a special invitation every week to the most important event in my life, Sunday Mass. All Masses are important and special but Sundays are extra special because those are the Masses where the church members gather as a family to participate in that special invitation to be a part of something so magnificent that it requires us to be at our best in respect for the celebration. It is the highest respect to accept that invitation in our finest, be it from the thrift store or the finest department store. If it is our best, it is acceptable by the host, the One who issued the invitation to be with Him.
And that is why I wear a hat to Sunday Mass. It is my way of coming at my best to join with my community in praise of Him who made it possible to celebrate with Him.
