The Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist are not two different acts of worship, but two moments of one same mystery. The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the preparation of the gifts.
“The presentation of the offerings at the altar takes up the gesture of Melchizedek and commits the Creator’s gifts into the hands of Christ who, in His sacrifice, brings to perfection all human attempts to offer sacrifices.” (CCC 1350) It is a rite full of richness and expressiveness
This is the privileged moment for the collection, so that the faithful may offer their material assistance to their brothers in need. “From the very beginning Christians have brought, along with the bread and wine for the Eucharist, gifts to share with those in need. This custom of the collection (1 Corinthians 16:1), ever appropriate, is inspired by the example of Christ who became poor to make us rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
Pope Benedict XVI on his Apostolic Exhortation “Sacramentum caritatis” mentions how all of creation is taken up by Christ to be presented to the Father in the sacrifice of the Mass. In this moment, every man presents, with Christ, his sufferings, joys and work, which is considered as a collaboration in the creative work of God, according to the commandment of Genesis: “Fill the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 1:28).
In the rite, the priest first takes the paten with the bread and, with both hands, slightly lifts it up over the altar, while saying the corresponding prayer. He does the same with the wine. The two almost identical prayers that the priest pronounces, out loud or quietly, are similar to those that Jesus used in his prayers of blessing, to which the assembly responds “Blessed be God forever” (Romans. 9:5; 2 Corinthians 11:31)
After presenting the bread and wine, the priest bows before the altar and prays quietly. In this way the priest prepares to celebrate the Eucharist “in spirit and in truth,” knowing that “a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalms 50)
The priest then washes his hands, thus obtaining his “interior purification.” Once at the altar again, he calls all present to prayer in order that our mutual sacrifice may be acceptable to God. And the assembly prays for the communal good and of the Church.
Let us remember that, along with the gifts, there is also the fruit of our sacrifice, that all human realities and all creation are included in the bread and wine, in all their simplicity. May the Lord our God accept our sacrifice for our good and all of His Holy Church.
López, Félix “Explanation of the Mass – The Preparation of the Gifts”, Home of the Mother, Accessed 10 March 2024, https://www.homeofthemother.org/en/resources/eucharist/549-explanation-of-the-mass/2435-preparation-of-the-gifts