“Thine own of Thine own we offer to Thee: On behalf of all and for all”
(Offertory Prayer of the Divine Liturgy)
We express the self-evident meaning of that pinnacle of prayer at each Divine Liturgy. As the deacon or celebrant crosses his arms and raises the sacred gifts to the Lord, we realize that the consecrated bread and wine are symbols of the contributions that the people of God are presenting to the Lord they love. The gifts represent the income from the love offerings of money, the labors in honor of the Church, and the sacrifices made on behalf of the Body of Christ.
At a deeper level this phrase serves as a caption to the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27). Only human beings have been created in the image of God, and like God Himself they are endowed with the gift of free will. The gift is gratis. That free will offering makes it both precious and dangerous. The offeror has the responsibility of developing his potential and living in communion with the Lord and with all others in his community, either using his gifts in selfish ways, neglecting his gifts, like the foolish man in the parable, burying them in the ground in case he is called to account for his life, or he will please the Lord of all gifts, multiplying them in a lifetime of labor.
Presumably the person will learn what gifts are his, and he does this from the first lessons of parents, then when he is at play with companions. Play is not only enjoyment, but rather a harmless way to discover the talents we possess, such as dexterity, speed, strength, problem solving and the skills we need in the grown up world. We are constantly honing our proficiencies to serve our needs and those of society. As we measure our own gifts against those of others, we are either sensible enough to make the most of our talents and thank the Lord for them, or we search for an easier way to get ahead in life by exploiting the possessions of people we use if we can, or by fantasizing some windfall from the lottery or such as dreams are made of. Here is a practical application of the Lord Jesus’ promise to the disciples: “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God” (Mk 4:11).
Those who will use the gift of free will to positive purposes have a silent partner through and beyond this lifetime. The image of God is more than a stamp of approval: It works within the soul in ways similar to the attributes we inherit from our human ancestors. By ongoing communion with the Holy Trinity in prayer, we are provided with grace, that priceless presence which can connect us with the Source of life and encourage us to go on developing our potential for making our lives meaningful. We fulfill the talents instilled in our souls and put in our hearts as incentives to become as like the Lord as humanly possible. This awareness is itself a sacred gift, and blessed are they who make it a way of life. Christ calls it the precious pearl that the connoisseur of jewels sold his entire store of merchandise to purchase (Matthew 13:45), the fortune found, purchased and buried in the field (Matthew 13:44), or the great catch of fish (Matthew 13:47). Notice in our day all the people who cannot be without a cell phone calling incessantly someone or other. Who would imagine but a few years ago that it would become such a feature of our daily lives? How much more is it a grace of inspiration to be in touch with the Holy Trinity at each hour awake or asleep?
With humility and self-awareness coupled with grace from the Holy Spirit you can recognize and itemize the many talents that only you possess, and like a serious athlete of the soul mold, shape and guide your life to exploit all that you are capable of achieving through your body, your mind, your soul and your means.