Preparation
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
ruler and judge of all,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
In the darkness of this age that is passing away
may the light of your presence which the saints enjoy
surround our steps as we journey on.
May we reflect your glory this day
and so be made ready to see your face
in the heavenly city where night shall be no more.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Luke 21.1-4
The Widow’s Offering
Jesus looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.’
Reflection
At the central point in the service of Holy Communion, as we move from the Liturgy of the Word into the Liturgy of the Sacrament, we come to the moment of Offertory. As the elements of bread and wine are brought to the Holy Table, so the financial gifts of the gathered congregation are brought forward for a moment of reception, blessing and dedication.
The offering of a sacrificial financial gift to further the worship, mission and ministry of the Church has a long history, rooted in the earliest writings and practices of the Old Testament. In early Jewish teachings we are urged to tithe our treasure, that is to offer one-tenth of our income as a freewill offering of praise and thanksgiving to God.
In modern times such matters have become more complicated, as well as watered-down! As fiscal transactions have grown in complexity we have found ways to obfuscate and prevaricate when it comes to parting with our ‘hard-earned cash’. Excuses and justifications abound in matters of generous giving! Even the Covid pandemic has played a part in such matters. We now hear an added excuse for not contributing to the Offertory: ‘We no longer carry cash!’
In the light of all this, today’s reading invites us to reflect upon our generosity towards God … the God who sacrificed everything for us! In just four verses from the gospel narrative we are challenged to consider how the loose change we ‘magnanimously’ throw into the collection plate measures up to the teaching and the example of Jesus.
Today we are reminded that our giving to God is not measured in quantity but in quality and depth. Giving out of our abundance rather than generously out of our poverty belittles our oft-proclaimed commitment and devotion to God. As we are invited to make our offering let us pray for the strength and the courage to entrust all we have to God, certain that his generosity will always far exceed our totality!
Prayers
In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father.
Let us praise Christ our King, by whose cross we have citizenship in heaven, saying: all your saints praise you.
Lord, you built your Church on the foundation of the apostles:
all your saints praise you.
You witness to your truth in the lives of your saints:
all your saints praise you.
You made us to be a kingdom and priests serving our God:
all your saints praise you.
You have shared our burdens,
revealing the holiness of our life and work:
all your saints praise you.
You stir us to seek the mysteries of the kingdom:
all your saints praise you.
You lead us to the eternal assembly of the saints:
all your saints praise you.
God of holiness,
your glory is proclaimed in every age:
as we rejoice in the faith of your saints,
inspire us to follow their example
with boldness and joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Christ our King make us faithful and strong to do his will,
that we may reign with him in glory;
and may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us always.
Amen.
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