XIII.

OFFERTORY COLLECTION.

After we have sat down following the prayers of the faithful, the collection takes place. The collection is not just a practical need that must take place but has spiritual significance as well. Collections were given even in the Jewish community. Book of Sirach 35:6-12 reads”

Appear not before the LORD empty-handed,
for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the precepts.
The just one's offering enriches the altar
and rises as a sweet odor before the Most High.
In a generous spirit pay homage to the LORD,
be not sparing of freewill gifts.
With each contribution show a cheerful countenance,
and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy.
Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
generously, according to your means.
For the LORD is one who always repays,
and he will give back to you sevenfold.
But offer no bribes, these he does not accept!
Trust not in sacrifice of the fruits of extortion.
For he is a God of justice,
who knows no favorites.

The collection has existed at its current place in the Mass since the 2nd century. In the early days of the church, people would bring whatever gift they had for the good of the community: bread and wine for the Mass, but other gifts, too: animals, eggs, produce, cloth, thus the necessity for the Lavabo, the washing of the hands for the priest after handling the offerings. Whatever was their best gift to offer and was needed for the good of the people. In fact, to not bring anything for the community, or to bring something that wasn’t your best was considered an insult to the community! In our modern society, where we work not necessarily for items but for a salary, the monetary gifts we place in the collection represent the gift of our lives, and the gift of living out the faith in the world during the past week. When we bring forward the collection to the altar, it represents our lives also being united with the altar and what is about to take place.

As a side note: These days many of you pay through direct deduction from your bank account. It is a wonderful way of making sure that you don’t forget to give and even if you go out of town for a weekend you don’t fail to pay your share to the parish. It facilitates and makes it easy to deal with the offertory. But this can probably diminish an important aspect of the offertory. The witnessing value is diminished in this mode of giving. Your children don’t see you giving. Even if you mention to them you pay through the bank it does not stick up in their mind always. Imagine, if every family gives through automatic deduction the next generation wouldn’t know about this practice and the need to give to the Church because they don’t see that being done in the Church. Therefore to overcome this pitfall, I would recommend to those giving through automatic deduction, please put just one dollar in your envelop besides your automatic deduction and drop it in the collection basket as a token of your giving. And let that pass from the oldest member of the family to the youngest one and that person may place it in the basket. The earner passes it through every member and symbolically make it everyone’s. Along with the bread and wine the envelops are brought up and they are offered on the altar. The bread and wine and bought by the collection taken and so they are fruit of your labor and they will come back to you as changed and transformed into the body and blood of Christ.  

While the offerings are being taken up, a song is usually sung. This song should express our joy at what is about to take place in the Mass, and often will further reflect on the Gospel of the day.