Offertory

Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, afragrant offering and sacrifice to God.


When we have a eucharist service we often use the words from this passage as the offertory sentence. I have frequently stated that the offertory is not the collection although that is when the collection is taken up on Sunday. The offertory is the offering of Christ for us, it is the offering of the bread and wine to become the communion gifts for us, but perhaps more importantly it is the offering we make of ourselves to God. All of those things can take place without taking up a collection.


Henri Nouwen wrote about Eucharist that for instance the bread is offered, broken, blessed and given as the body of Christ. He says that in the same moment we are meant to be given, broken, blessed and given as the body of Christ. After we receive communion we are dispersed with a prayer where we asks Christ to be with us as we are sent into the world. The body of Christ once more available to do God's work.


I wonder what would happen if we really saw ourselves as the broken and blessed offering being handed out to the world?