Holy Thursday – A Day of Covenant
In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen.
May the blessing of the Father who calls us and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ who saves us, and the Holy Spirit who sanctifies and transforms us be with us all, that we may hear His word and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Amen.
In the Church calendar, today is one of the Lord’s major feasts. It is called Holy Thursday or Covenant Thursday. It is one of three major feasts that fall on a Thursday:
- Jonah’s Passover (Jonah’s Fast)
- Covenant Thursday
- The Feast of the Ascension
During Holy Week—a week full of prayers, worship, and deep spirituality—we feel ourselves moving:
- From weakness to strength
- From sorrow to joy
- From outward form to inner truth
- From surface to depth
This is the goal of Holy Week: a personal goal for each one of us.
Monday is the day of cleansing and repentance. It is a day to bear fruit and avoid being like the barren fig tree—a symbol of outward appearance with no substance. Let us not deceive ourselves with leaves and no fruit. Let us become the true temple of God, offering good works and obeying Him from the heart.
Tuesday is the Day of Oil and Mercy, where we remember the wise virgins and reflect on the mercy we show others.
Wednesday is the Day of Perfume and Love—where we honor the woman who poured the fragrant oil, contrasting Judas’ betrayal.
Thursday is the Day of Water and Covenant—a day to make a sacred vow before God.
The Three Covenants of Holy Thursday
Each of us can take up these three sacred covenants and hold to them throughout the year—until we renew them next Holy Thursday.
1. The Covenant of Humility – Washing of Feet
Our Lord Jesus took water and washed His disciples’ feet. This was His final lesson before the Cross—a lasting message to remember.
This act flipped the world’s standards upside down. It wasn’t just about physical cleaning. It was about bowing to serve with love. The feet, which carry us, symbolize our walk. Jesus taught us that no one is too important to serve others.
Humility is the key to the life of the Cross and the path to holiness. No school teaches humility—it is only acquired through covenant. The Virgin Mary said: “He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.” (Luke 1:52)
Christ gave us this covenant through water—to remind us of baptism, repentance, and tears that cleanse. Even suffering in the world, like the recent pandemic, reminds us to be humble before God.
“Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility.” (Proverbs 18:12)
So make this your first vow:
The Vow of Humility: I will be a humble person in my life, relationships, words, behavior, and even in my silence.
2. The Covenant of Union – The Eucharist
Jesus established the Sacrament of the Eucharist on this day. The unity of grains into bread and grapes into wine teaches us to move from individualism to unity.
True union comes through pain, surrender, and love—just as Christ was crushed on the Cross for our sake. He gave us His Body and Blood so we could abide in Him:
“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.” (John 6:56)
Let us not be the ones who break unity with constant opposition or pride. The Church reminds us with sayings like: “On the obedient, blessings are poured” and “The defiant ruins his own state.”
The Vow of Union: I vow to live in true spiritual unity, not surface-level harmony, with my church, my service, and my community.
3. The Covenant of Love – The Farewell Prayer
On Holy Thursday, Jesus:
- Ate the Passover
- Washed the disciples’ feet
- Instituted the Eucharist
- Spoke in the Upper Room
- Prayed His Farewell Prayer (John 17)
This prayer is the foundation of our covenant of love. Let us consider its teachings:
1. The Name of Christ: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower…” (Proverbs 18:10) – The Jesus Prayer strengthens us and fills us with love.
2. The Word of God: “I have given them Your word.” (John 17:14) – Dive deeply into Scripture and let it form your love and understanding.
3. A Life of Holiness: “Sanctify them by Your truth…” (John 17:17) – Holiness is the fragrance of Christ. Live in His commandments and reflect His love.
4. Unity: “That they all may be one…” (John 17:21) – Unity is the crown of love. As David said: “I will love You, O Lord, my strength.” (Psalm 18:1)
The Vow of Love: I vow to live in the love of Christ—in prayer, in His name, in His Word, and in unity with His people.
How to Acquire True Humility and Genuine Prayer – A Word from St. Barsanuphius
A disciple once asked St. Barsanuphius:
“Father, tell me—how can a person acquire true humility and genuine prayer?”
And the saint replied:
On Humility
“As for how one acquires complete humility, the Lord Himself taught us when He said:
‘Learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’
Matthew 11:29
If you desire to gain humility, then observe what Christ did. Meditate on His patience, and imitate His endurance. Renounce your will before every person. For He said:
‘I have come down from heaven not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.’
John 6:38
This is perfect humility: to bear insults, to endure shame, and to accept all that befell our Teacher in virtue—our Lord Jesus Christ.”
On Prayer
“True prayer is when a person speaks to God without distraction, with his entire being—his thoughts, his senses, his focus—completely fixed on God.
What leads a person to this kind of prayer is to die to all people, to the world, and to everything in it. He must imagine that he is standing before God and speaking only to Him.
When someone reaches this state, he escapes distraction, is freed from wandering thoughts, and his mind becomes joyful and radiant in the Lord.
The sign that someone has reached perfect prayer is this:
He is no longer disturbed by any thought—even if the whole world tries to distract him. For the one who prays perfectly has died to the world and all its distractions.
Whatever he receives or understands comes to him with peace, without confusion or distraction.”
Conclusion
Beloved, today on Holy Thursday we are given a sacred opportunity to renew three vows:
- The Vow of Humility – through foot washing
- The Vow of Union – through the Eucharist
- The Vow of Love – through the Farewell Prayer of Gethsemane
May Christ seal these vows in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. May they be gifts offered sincerely to our Lord. Today is a joyful day—it is the first day during Pascha when we offer the holy sacrifice of the Eucharist.
May the Lord bless us, transform our hearts and minds, that our homes may stand on the Rock, our hands serve in the harvest, and our hearts long for Heaven. Amen.