Our
Personal Offering
Ephesians
4:7,11-1 3, 15-16
But grace was given
to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.. ..And his gifts were
that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors,
and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up
the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature
of the fullness of Christ....
Rather, speaking in truth
and love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which
it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and
upholds itself in love.
Reflections
on the Text
Through His life, death and resurrection, Christ offered
himself for the salvation of the world. He gave His life not only for his
close friends and followers, but for the salvation of all persons and the whole
of creation.
We affirm this at each Divine
Liturgy: Immediately following the words of institution, the celebrant recalls
“all those things which have come to pass
for us: the Cross, the Tomb, the Resurrection on the third day, the Ascension
into heaven, the Sitting at the right hand, and the second and glorious Coming.”
Then the gifts of bread and wine are raised and the celebrant proclaims
“Thine own of mine own we offer unto Thee, on behalf of all and for all.”
Our gifts in the form of bread and wine are offered
to God and become the Body and Blood of Christ through the action of the
Holy Spirit. In turn, they are offered
to us for the “purification of souls and the remission of sins.”
Having been “baptized into
Christ” and “put on Christ,” we are called to become imitators of Him—to “walk
in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering
and sacrifice to God” (Eph. 5:1-2). To imitate Christ—the Servant
who offers—to answer His call and to “follow Him” means
we must offer ourselves for others. We make this offering through our love,
our gifts and our talents. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit (by anointing
with the Holy Chrism), Christ’s gifts are distributed to all “to equip the saints for the work of ministry,
for the building up the Body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12).
What are these gifts that
we offer to God and to others? Having a gift does not mean that we are the best
at something, but rather that we offer our best to God in whatever we do. The
widow who offered her mite, the woman who anointed Jesus, the thief who repented—all
these are examples of offering the best of your gifts, no matter how small or
insignificant. These gifts were great in the eyes of God simply because they
were the greatest things that could be offered.
1. Privately ask yourself, “what are the gifts and talents God has given
me?” Keep in mind the difference between the two. Take a couple of minutes
and write down your answers.
2. In what ways have I offered and could I offer these gifts for the building
up of the body of Christ?
3. Compare the accounts of the widow’s mite (Luke 21:1-4), the woman anointing
Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:36-50), and the repentant thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43)
with Christ’s discussion with the rich young man (Luke 18: 18-27). What could
we say to someone who says that Christ demands too much of us?
