The Shepherd, February 2007
To repeat an earlier observation; an offering is an expression of the state of one’s heart. It is a sound indicator of how much one is attached to material things. The more one is attached to material things, the less room there is for love - and consequently for God Himself.20
So, one’s offering becomes a witness of one’s love, a sacrifice which accompanies one’s prayers and a cleaning process from the sins of greed, avarice and meanness. However, it is important to say that occasionally one meets a situation where parishes have set fixed fees for private services. These are the result of the poor financial situations in our churches. Usually the fees are set by the Parish Council or Annual Meeting of Parishioners to ensure that costs for electricity, cleaning, etc are covered. This situation shows that when a proper Christian approach to supporting the Church is lacking, then other spiritually less beneficial practises creep into the life of the Church. The same may be said of clergy who ask a fee for their “services.” Such an act is strictly forbidden by their priestly oath,21 and an offering is precisely that - an offering.
If the priest in his humility does not ask for a fee, but awaits the gift of an offering, then it behoves the parishioner to remember that the priest who serves the Altar, receives his recompense from the Altar.22 In other words, the priest is supported by the parishioners he ministers to, and an offering is appropriate.
Finally, a few words about how much should be given as an offering. There is no fixed amount as there should be no thought of a fee for services as in the world of commerce. No-one has the right to sell God’s Grace or Sacraments, and certainly the vast majority of priests ensure that laypeople understand this important principle. The best rule of what an offering can be, is to be found in the Gospel of St Mark, who writes:23
“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on.’” *
Again we return to the most important question of what is the state of one’s heart. It is never what one gives or how much, but always - does one give with all their heart.
Author’s footnotes:
1 Matthew 21:12 and Mark 11:15 - “Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.” John 2:15 - “So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.”
2 1 Timothy 6:10 - “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
3 Matthew 19:24 and Mark 10:25 - “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
4 Mark 12:42 - “But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.”
5 Luke 10:35 - “The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’”
6 Luke 16:19:31 - “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table.”
7 Exodus 30:15 - ”The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the Lord to atone for your lives.”
8 Exodus 30:16 - “Receive the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting.”
9 Numbers 18:28 - “In this way you also will present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the Lord’s portion to Aaron the priest.”
10 Numbers 18:21 - “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tabernacle.”
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