Not By Bread Alone

Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from Holy Thursday, April 13, 2006

"He took a towel and wrapped it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet." John 13:5

PETER WAS SHOCKED BY Jesus' action.

I remember an Easter Mass when I was shocked also. It was the Chrism Liturgy at the Cathedral of San Juan de La Maguna in the Dominican Republic. At the offertory along with bread and wine, various faith communities came forward bearing fruit, beans, rice, and herding calves and goats up the marbled middle aisle. Bishop Grullon welcomed and blessed each offering for the provisions of the minor seminary.

This was a minor surprise after the major shock of his homily. He chose Easter as the time to introduce a new project to every parish in the diocese: latrines. He had received funding for a partnership of the diocese and the parishes to initiate a program of community based latrine construction. He made an effortless connection between this outreach and the footwashing commemorated on Holy Thursday. He indicated that Jesus' gesture of humble service was also a promotion of hygiene.

It is significant that John's Gospel does not describe the details of the institution of the Eucharist. Instead it focuses on the washing of feet. Jesus did not establish the Eucharist primarily for worship or adoration. It was the sign of his call and our call to become servants to God and others. He took the form of a servant. It was his favorite self identification.

Let us make of our lives bread broken for the life of the world.