Dear Friends,
Have you ever been asked to bring up the gifts to the altar during Sunday Mass? Did you agree or disagree? I heard about an informal survey that asked: “Do you say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ when the usher asks you to bring up the gifts?” It seems the majority were nay-sayers! Some people feel embarrassed to bring up the gifts in front of the congregation, like this mother who told me that she was very upset when her husband readily said yes to the usher who asked “Would your family like to bring up the gifts?” She was a nervous wreck, worrying that she or the kids might spill the wine or drop the hosts. But nothing went wrong, and they were happy and the kids were excited from then on, to be chosen to bring up the gifts more often.
Inviting people to participate in the Offertory presentation is an ancient custom dating back to the early centuries of Christianity. In the 2nd Century, St. Justin Martyr wrote: “When our prayer is ended, bread and wine with water are brought forth, and the president offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability.” In the 5th Century, St. Augustine, in reference to the offertory, spoke of the “admirable exchange” that takes place, where the faithful return their gifts they have been given back to God. The priest acting in “persona Christi” (in the person of Christ) receives from the faithful their contributions and sacrifices, offers them to God, who perfects them and transforms them into the Body and Blood of Christ.
Pope Benedict drew attention to the presentation of the Gifts when he said: “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. 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 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”.
After receiving the gifts, the priest prays over them: “Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through Your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life. Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through Your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink.”
The Church invites us all to have the full, conscious and active participation in the Eucharist. Bringing up the gifts is just one expression of that. The family that is chosen to bring up the gifts represents the entire congregation. Thank you to our wonderful ushers who do an excellent ministry. It’s understandable to be a little nervous when you are asked to bring up the gifts. Don’t be afraid! Consider it as an honor. In presenting the gifts, you are carrying the very bread and wine that will be changed substantially (the theological term is ‘transubstantiation’) into the Body and Blood of Christ.
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. Abraham Orapankal