The presentation of the gifts

My understanding of tithing is closely tied to how I of worship. Whenever I have to look at something that is important to me I find myself always returning to our Eucharistic practice. The Eucharistic celebration is an offering of our time; it is a time for us to come into the rest of God’s presence, rest from our labors and a time when we give to God of our resources.

One of my favorite rites in the Eucharist is the presentation of gifts. Here at St Stephens we don’t do it, however, an important part of the presentation of gifts is before the offertory is taken; where the bread and wine is brought to the altar. This rite comes from the early church where people brought [up] bread and wine which they worked to make, for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. This is a simple gesture (that may be easily dismissed) and yet it is full of depth and meaning. It is a reminder that when we are making an offering be it monetary or goods, we are offering our gifts, talents and time. Pope Benedict XVI explains this rite as follows:

This humble and simple gesture is actually very significant: in the bread and wine that we bring to the altar, all creation is taken up by Christ the Redeemer to be transformed and presented to the Father (144). In this way we also bring to the altar all the pain and suffering of the world, in the certainty that everything has value in God's eyes. The authentic meaning of this gesture can be clearly expressed without the need for undue emphasis or complexity. It enables us to appreciate how God invites man to participate in bringing to fulfillment his handiwork, and in so doing, gives human labor its authentic meaning, since, through the celebration of the Eucharist, it is united to the redemptive sacrifice of Christ (Sacramentum Caritatis 2007, 47).

This is an article i had to write for our parish newsletter.