How we can receive more from the Mass - 19 (Offertory/self-sacrifice)

I suspect that the Offertory deserves and requires much more of our attention.

Too often, we can be focussed on singing a hymn.  Or we allow our mind to wander before the ‘important bits’ start.  But we cannot begin to truly understand the Mass without an understanding of offering and sacrifice, and we really need to give our undivided attention to what is happening here. 

Maybe, part of the problem is our understanding of the word sacrifice.  In modern usage it has a negative feel, as in giving up something valuable.  It can hold connotations of the brutal, barbaric human sacrifices made by the Incas and other ancient cultures.  Or perhaps the catechesis that we received as children wrongly suggested that the death of Jesus was to appease a God who demands bloody retribution for our sins.

But true sacrifice stems from a deep acknowledgement that everything that we are, and everything that we have, comes from our Eternal God.  And the only fitting response to this is to hand ourselves over to him, to completely surrender to him.  This is what true adoration is: ‘Here I am, Lord.  I am all yours.’

But we fallen creatures need a tangible way in which to express this adoration. 

When we are truly, deeply in love with someone, there are times when just being in the presence of the other is all that is needed.  But, if our love is real, then we also feel the urge to express this deep love in something more concrete – a word, gesture, a gift.  We instinctively need to do that. 

In the same way, we need tangible, visible, religious rites so that we can express the giving of ourselves to God.

This week, during the Offertory, let us really focus on our complete self-offering to our infinitely-loving God.

“My sacrifice, a contrite spirit.  A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.” Psalm 50(51):17