TO
LOVE IS PERSONAL. This is the insight
that came to my mind when I observed how the TITHING SYSTEM is being
implemented in our Barangay, Centro 07, Tuguegarao City.
At
the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines, held in 1991, it was decreed
that the ‘Tithing System’ be adapted in lieu of the present ‘Stole Fees
System’. The rationale behind this is to
make the people understand that the administration of the Sacraments are not
for sale. Hence, the system of charging
fees when the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Matrimony are
administered should be eliminated and substituted with the Tithing System.
The
Tithing System is a way by which the parishioners are invited to voluntarily
offer some amount regularly to the Church as an Act of Thanksgiving to God for blessings received. This love offering of the parishioners will
then become the main source of funds to defray Church expenditures.
Since
June of 2011, our Barangay (Centro 07) has been giving the biggest amount of
Tithes which has been offered during the
celebration of monthly Community Mass at our Barangay. This was gratefully acknowledged by our
Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Gerard Ariston P. Perez.
I
have observed, however, that many of those who gave their love offerings were
not present at the celebration of the Holy Mass. They just gave their ‘tithe’ to an Area
Coordinator, who in turn submitted these tithes at the Offertory during the
Mass.
Reflecting
on this observation, I asked myself if God would be pleased by this way of
giving something to Him through someone else.
Since tithing is an act of love, manifesting one’s gratitude to God, I
believe it should be done personally, because love is a person to person
relationship. One cannot love God
through someone else, just as one cannot eat through another one. In other words, LOVE cannot be
delegated. It has to be done personally.
Hence, I believe that those who want to offer their tithes to God should be
present during the celebration of the Holy Mass and give their love offering
personally during the Offertory.
For
the proper implementation of the Tithing System I, therefore, see the need for
some catechetical instruction so that it be correctly understood. The emphasis should be made on the motive for
this system, which is a grateful manifestation of love to God in response to
His Unbounded Love.
By: Buddy Cagurangan
February 26, 2012
