Work of Human Hands

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Father Joe

The phrase, “work of human hands,” occurs twice in the Offertory prayers, first over the bread (hosts) and then the wine. The priest speaks for the people who present these gifts to God. No matter whether spoken audibly or softly, these orations touch our interior and exterior participation in the Mass. We do not give back to God just what he has given us. Like the servant in the parable of the talents, God expects us to use the gifts he gives us. A brief examination of where we get this bread may help you to see what I mean. We do not give wheat back to God; we give bread, the work of human hands. First there is the work of plowing, planting and cultivating. Then there is the hope that the seed will take root and produce. Then there follows the harvest, a time of joy and thanksgiving. The chaff is separated from the wheat, which is a sign of our rejecting in our lives that which is bad and holding on to that which is good. The wheat is then taken to the baker, and with the addition of the yeast (not used in the bread at Mass), and the heat of the fire, we have bread. Can you see how the finished product is the work of human hands? That bread sums up our lives of work and hope and gratitude. The bread stands for what we have in life; and that which we have, we offer to God from what he has given us— and our own life and work put into this finished product. The bread stands for life— that which we need to sustain our natural existence. But in the Mass, it also contains the promise of the Eucharistic bread which sustains our spiritual life. We are pilgrim people. We walk to the communion station for the Eucharistic bread (the whole and complete living Christ substantially present). It is Christ himself we receive. This special food gives us the strength we need so as not to falter on our pilgrim way to the Father’s house in eternity. What a destiny for the small seed we plant! It becomes the means by which Christ gives us his very self and presence. It is no wonder that at the beginning of the prayer we say, “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation….” Blessed means thank you. We have this bread to offer, fruit of the earth and fashioned by human hands. There is co-operation, co-creation or participation with God’s creation. The bread carried in procession is supposed to express our giving of ourselves to God— does it really? Have we shared the fruit of our labors with God’s Church? Do we surrender a decent gift that expresses our livelihood? Have we given ourselves truly to the service of the community? The Gospel tells us first to “leave your gift at the altar” (Matthew 5:24) and go and reconcile with your brother— does the gift we leave (signified in the gift of bread) reflect reconciliation with one another and conform to the self-donation of our lives to God?