Sharing our goods with those in need

 

offertory-procession - Catechist's Journey

It is a good and longstanding custom to offer our thoughts, actions, and prayers to God each day, for ourselves and for the whole world. This offering may be made at any moment, but it is especially fitting at the very beginning of the day. In that sense, it becomes the key that opens the day, just as our final offering and prayers before turning out the light in the evening are the lock that closes it.

In the Eucharist, we unite our personal daily offerings of prayer, effort, and material goods with those of the entire community. Even in ancient times before the coming of Christ, such offerings formed part of Israel’s worship and, alongside synagogue almsgiving and communal obligations, ensured care for widows, orphans, and the poor.

Saint Justin Martyr, who was martyred around A.D. 165, describes the collection that took place during the Sunday Eucharistic assembly. After the readings and common prayers, bread, wine, and water were brought forward (Apology1.67):

….bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.

During the Offertory in the Mass today, the priest usually elevates the bread and wine slightly. This gesture may echo, at least symbolically, the lifting or waving of gifts (tenuphah) in ancient Jewish worship.

In the Mass of the ages, we can see the continuity of these ancient patterns of offering and thanksgiving, fulfilled and transformed in Christian worship.