This article first appeared in Our Sunday Visitor magazine. Subscribe to receive the monthly magazine here.
I distinctly remember the first time I ever wore a clerical shirt in public. Prior to that day, there was nothing about me that would have indicated to others that I was Christian. I didn’t wear a small chain, as many do, as an outward sign of being totally consecrated to Mary. I wore no bracelet, ring or necklace with a cross. The scapular I wore was not visible to others. So the change was quite striking. In an instant, I went from being a college seminarian, dressed most days in business casual, to an unmistakably “religious person.” It felt strange and, frankly, it took some getting used to.
What I quickly realized, however, was that while I certainly drew more attention in public settings, for those who knew me, nothing had really changed. As I prayed through this, I came to understand that it was because, despite not outwardly appearing Christian, people already knew that I was. Another way of looking at it is that, had I suddenly appeared in the robes or habit of another religion, it would have caused a very different reaction. The confusion would have stemmed from the fact that my outward appearance signified something entirely new — something people did not already associate with me. But the clerical shirt, while it drew attention, didn’t create that same sense of unfamiliarity because, at a deeper level, the people around me already recognized my identity as a Christian.
Reflecting an interior reality
The lesson from this personal anecdote is that living out our faith is much more about an interior reality than an external appearance. Consider the well-known question often posed from the pulpit: “If Christianity were illegal and you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Many respond by wondering whether they own enough crosses or Bibles. But there are plenty of Christians who live as if that were the measure of their faith yet fail to embody the deeper, transformative aspects of Christianity.
When Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Mark to “repent, and believe” (1:15), the Greek word used there is metanoia, literally, a turning or complete changing of the mind. This is the transformation of heart that can only come through a supernatural infusion of grace. When we think about living out our faith in the secular workplace, it must begin with self-reflection. Have I made God the supreme good in my life? Do I seek daily to love the Lord with all my heart, mind, soul and body? If we can answer this question affirmatively, then, whether or not our office is adorned with Scripture verses or crosses, people will see our faith lived out in a meaningful way.
Ultimately, it is the authenticity of our inner transformation — our metanoia — that speaks louder than any outward symbol, and that is what makes our faith truly visible to those around us.
