VINELAND — During the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Bishop Dennis Sullivan reminded the faithful that there were two important actions Jesus took at the Passover Meal with the apostles.
“First … he washes the dirt off his disciples’ feet. Actions speak louder than words. The Lord even washed the feet of Judas, the one who would betray him. He also washes the feet of the one who would deny him, Peter.
Photo Gallery: Holy Thursday Mass in Vineland
“The eternal Son of God, doing the work of a household slave. The apostles had to have been stunned by his actions. Actions speak louder than words,” the Bishop preached during the Mass he celebrated the evening of April 14 in Saint Isidore the Farmer Church, a worship site of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish.
The second key action of Jesus at the Last Supper, Bishop Sullivan explained, is the establishment of the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
“On the night he was handed over, Jesus took bread, broke it and said, ‘This is my Body’; in the same way, he also took the cup. ‘This is the new covenant in my blood,’” he said. “This is one of the oldest texts in the New Testament about the bread and the cup. ‘Bread, My Body. My broken Body. Broken on the Cross. Blood. My Blood. Poured out on the Cross. Do this in memory of me.’”
“At Mass, Jesus Christ is really present in the bread and wine. This is a central belief of Catholic faith. It defines us as Roman Catholics,” Bishop Sullivan added, explaining that the bread and wine are not symbolic.
He continued, “Wash each other’s feet. Break and eat the bread. Drink the cup. Serve one another; pour out your lives for one another.”
That was a message heard by Rob Anderson, one of 12 parishioners to have their feet washed by Bishop Sullivan. “A lot of times people are evil to other people, and there’s no reason to be like that. The way I see it, life is too short for that.”
He said he was honored to have been asked by the parish pastor, Father Junior Flores, to “be an apostle on this very touching night. It’s a big honor to have your feet washed by a bishop. It almost makes you cry when you realize what the Lord does for you.”
Parishioner Jim Marketto said he always finds the theme of service a moving part of the Holy Thursday Mass.
“Jesus was a model servant, and our priesthood is to follow that model,” he said, adding that the laity is called to serve each other, too. “The most significant part of this evening is for me the idea that a king came to serve rather than be served.”
In addition, Marketto said there was an important lesson in the establishment of the Eucharist.
“Jesus wanted to establish his presence not just 2,000 years ago; therefore he gave us his Word but then that Word became flesh to live on forever,” he said. “It’s establishing his presence in today’s world through us as long as we are willing to participate, and that’s key — the participation.”
That participation is something crucial in the life of parishioner Stephanie Venturi. Through the Eucharist, she feels closer to God and knows “that he lives in me and will always take care of me. I know he’s carried me several times.”
Her mother, Patti, agreed. “Holy Thursday shows just how much our Lord loves us. He knew what was going to happen next, and he accepted it. I don’t know how he did it.”
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