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Continuing thinking about Lent, there is something “Lentish” we incorporate into our worship services — the Offertory.

 

What about the Offertory?

 

To be clear, the Offertory is not about financial offering, though financial offering is part of the Offertory.

 

The Offertory has its roots in the earliest days of the Christian Church, where the faithful brought bread and wine to the altar as offerings for the Eucharistic sacrifice. This practice is documented by St. Justin Martyr in the 2nd century, who wrote that “Then bread and a cup of water and wine are brought to the president of the brethren,” highlighting the communal act of offering the Eucharistic elements. In the early Church, the offering of bread and wine occurred after the Liturgy of the Catechumens, which included scripture readings and a sermon, acting as a bridge to the liturgy of Holy Communion (the catechumens, or students, would leave the service after they had contributed to the offertory and before Communion as they were not yet baptised). 

In the Offertory, the people would present their gifts, often including food and money.  These gifts were received by the deacon(s) and brought to the bishop or priest at the altar. This act represented the faithful’s participation in Christ’s sacrifice. Over time, the rite evolved. 

Though the name of the rite has been updated in modern liturgical practice to "Preparation of the Gifts" (to clarify that the real offering occurs during the Eucharistic Prayer), the theological essence remains: the faithful, through their gifts of bread, wine, and offerings for the poor, symbolically join in Christ’s self-offering to the Father. 

In other words, the Offertory is the point in our worship where we deliberately offer ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be living sacrifices to our Lord and Saviour.  As tokens of giving our very selves, we give back some of what God has given us — money yes, but also our prayers, our praise, our commitment to be one with Christ.  This offering may also  include tokens of food, which can be distributed to the poor (to the local food bank, for example), or other items for the poor which can be distributed at the local second-hand store.

 

The intent of the Offertory is to show God we know that everything we have comes from God, and we are grateful — so grateful in fact, that we wish the church (God’s body) to have some of it back to glorify God and to help others who may be in need.

 

Just like Lent is a season of focussing on dedicating ourselves to God and walking the Way of Christ, the Offertory is a liturgical moment focussed on dedicating ourselves to God and walking the Way of Christ.   The Offertory is, fundamentally, all about our relationship with God through Christ.

 

May you be greatly blessed with all God had given you, most of all a vibrant relationship with Christ.

 

In His Name;

 

+David