Liturgical Theology: Covenant Thursday

Introduction to Covenant Thursday

Events of the Day

• The Lord, on this day, instituted TWO Mysteries: The Mystery of the Eucharist and the Mystery of Washing the Feet
• 1st-11th Hours
  • Preparing the Passover
  • Washing the Feet of the Disciples
  • Eating the Passover Meal
  • Institution of the Eucharist
• 1st Hour of Eve of Friday
  • Paraclete Gospels

Name of the Day

• Covenant Thursday
  • The Lord established the New Covenant
• Maundy Thursday
  • Catholic name for it... from Latin mandatum meaning "Commandment"
• Great Thursday, Holy Thursday

Gospel Accounts

Preparing the Passover

• References
  • Matthew 26:17-19
  • Mark 14:12-16
  • Luke 22:7-13 - Read Out Loud
• The location of the Passover was hidden from the disciples (except Peter and John) so that Judas would not betray the Lord to the chief priests before the Lord instituted the Eucharist
• Peter and John took care of all the preparations of the Passover
• The Lord directs them to a man carrying a pitcher of water (like how He directed them to find the donkey and colt on Palm Sunday). “The master has need of it.”

Eating the Passover

Washing the Feet

• John 13:1-17

Judas' Betrayal

• Matthew 26:20-25 - Read Out Loud
  • The Lord says "one of you will betray Me" and is intentionally vague... he's giving Judas a chance to repent
  • And all the disciples ask "Lord is it I?" except Judas
  • Then He makes it a little more public: "He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me." - maybe if He exposes him a little bit, he will repent, he will change his mind... he doesn't.
  • "The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born!" - maybe if He warns him about the consequences, he will repent... he doesn't.
  • Finally, Judas says: "Rabbi, is it I?" And the Lord said to him "You have said it."
• Mark 14:17-21
  • Same notes as above
• John 13:18-30 - Read Out Loud
  • Gospel of John gives us the detail that St Peter motioned to St John to ask the Lord who He was talking about
  • St John leans on Jesus' breast and asks Him
  • Jesus dips the bread, gives it to Judas, and when Judas takes it, Satan enters him and he went out immediately
  • All of these are important details when we come to understand the Passover meal

Eucharist

• Matthew 26:26-30
• Mark 14:22-26
  

Gospel of Luke

• Luke 22:14-23 - Read Out Loud
• More details
• They ate the Passover
• Mentions a cup before the Eucharist
  
• Mentions Judas AFTER the Eucharist

Passover History

Given that we read the Gospel accounts of that night, now let's connect them with some of the historical context of the Passover and see if we can reconstruct the events of the Lord's Supper and see how we can benefit from it.

• Original Passover
  • Exodus 12
    • Lamb without blemish, a male of the first year of the sheep or goats
    • The whole assembly shall kill it at twilight on the 14th of the month of Nisan
    • Take the blood and put it on the lintel
    • Roasted in fire
    • Unleavened bread
    • Bitter herbs
    • None of it should remain until morning
    • Belt on your waist, sandals on your feet, staff in hand - in haste
  • Exodus 13: “And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘This is done because of what the Lord did for me when I came up from Egypt.’ It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in your mouth”
    
• Other Passovers in Scripture
  • Numbers 9 (Second One)
    
  • Deuteronomy 16
    
    • From the flock and the herd
      
    • You may not eat within any of your gates – in the morning you shall turn and go to your tents
      
  • Joshua 5 (First One in Promised Land)
    
  • 2 Chronicles 30 (Hezekiah)
    
  • 2 Kings 23, 2 Chronicles 35 (Josiah)
    
  • Ezra 6 (First One After Exile)
    
  • Although the Lord commanded the Passover to be celebrated every year, it seems that throughout the Old Testament it was rarely kept - or even if kept, not done correctly. By the time of the 1st Century, with the 2nd Temple, it has become a big event and celebrated every year. We know that the Lord Jesus celebrated it every year and St John mentions in his gospel three times.
    • Before Nicodemus in John 3 (Passover is mentioned at end of John 2)
    • Before Eucharist in John 6
    • The Last Supper in John 13
• 1st Century Passover
  • Centered around the drinking of four cups of wine 
  • 1st Cup: Cup of Sanctification
    • Drinking the Cup
      • Luke 22:17 - “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’”
    • Seder Plate (Appetizer)
      • Karpas - Greens
      • Bitter Herbs
  • 2nd Cup: Cup of Deliverance
    • Maggid - Retelling the Passover Story with the “Four Questions”
    • Only the younger was allowed to ask the questions... Why is this night different from all other nights?
      • Why do we eat leavened bread on all other nights, but unleavened today?
      • Why do we eat vegetables on all other nights, but bitter herbs today?
      • Why on other nights do we not dip our food, but tonight we dip twice?
      • Why do we eat meat cooked in any way on all nights, but today roasted only?
        • This question is substituted in modern Passover with "why do we sit upright on other days but today recline" because of the destruction of the Temple
      • It became very strict that only the youngest would address the elder or the patriarch of the family. And some comment and say this is why St Peter motioned to St John to ask the Lord about the betrayer. Because St John, being the youngest, would be the one who is allowed to talk and ask questions during the Passover meal. (John 13)
    • Drinking the second cup
    • Washing the hands
      • This is likely when the Lord washed the feet of the disciples
      • Although John 13:2 says: "And supper being ended", it seems the Greek means more "during Supper" or "Supper having commenced"
        • Greek Interlinear: https://biblehub.com/text/john/13-2.htm 
        • All Versions: https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/John%2013%3A2 
        • See also the Arabic "During Supper"
    • Eating a small piece of bread
      • This is the bread that Judas took and ate and left (John 13)
    • Eating the Festive Meal
    • ”After they had supped”
    • Eating the “afikoman” Bread
      • ”Take eat, this is My Body which is broken for you and for many”
      • St Matthew and St Mark write "As they were eating" - showing that the Eucharist was instituted DURING the grand Passover meal, but AFTER the completion of the Passover "proper" and the eating of the Lamb and Bitter Herbs
  • 3rd Cup: Cup of Blessing
    • “The cup after supper”
    • “Take drink, this is My Blood”
    • ”The cup of blessing which we bless..." (1 Cor 10)
    • Psalm 115-Psalm 118
      • Psalm 116: "I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving" 
      • Psalm 118: “The Lord is my strength and son, and He has become my salvation”
  • 4th Cup: Cup of Consummation
    • ”And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives”
      • They sang the hymn but did NOT drink this cup
        
      • This cup concludes the Passover. 
      • The Lord Jesus did NOT drink this cup
      • "Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14:25)
      • "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:29)
      • "for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” (Luke 22:18)
    • One opinion is that after this, the Lord goes to the Garden of Gethsemane and He prays the Father
      • "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
      • "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done." (Matthew 26:39-42)
      • And a third time he prays with the same words...
      • Why is He using a cup analogy to refer to the Cross, specifically? The fourth cup indicates the end of the Passover... the Lamb is dead and eaten.
      • And then when He is carrying the Cross, they offer Him wine and he refuses it and doesn't take it... but when does He take it? Right before His death.
      • And He drinks it at the Cross and immediately says "It is finished" and gives up His Spirit
        • "After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit." (John 19:28-30)
        • Now the Passover is complete
          

Rites of Covenant Thursday

Readings of the Day

Matins

• Prophecies
• Open the Curtain
• Paschal Praise
• Offering of Morning Incense
  • Thanksgiving Prayer
  • Verses of Cymbals (should be without saints)
  • Psalm 50
  • Litany of the Sick
  • Litany of the Oblations (feast)
  • Gloria
  • Trisagion (Cross only… some say Nativity + Cross)
  • Doxologies (Shouldn’t be… focus is on Christ and His Passion)
  • Creed
    • Don’t mention the Resurrection
  • O God have mercy
  • Hymn of the Cross
  • Praxis
    • St Peter speaking to the 120 about Judas hanging himself, falling in a field and his entrails gushing out - so he needs to be replaced as was prophesied.
    • The Church is arranging all of the Judas things to happen before the Eucharist for two reasons:
      • To indicate that Judas did NOT eat of the Eucharist
      • So that our focus is not split… remember that many events are happening at the same time. While the Lord is having his last discourse with the 11, Judas is out betraying him. While Jesus is at the garden, Judas is bringing the chief priests. Etc. The Church does not want our focus to be split - so she dedicates that we finish everything related to Judas by the 1st hour so when we come to the Lakkan and the Eucharist, our focus is not on Judas at all.
  • Procession of Judas
    • Clockwise, reverse of all other Processions
    • Judas went “with the world”
    • Some traditions:
      • Process around an inverted chair; the chair represents his empty throne that he forsook (“Let his place be made desolate”)
      • Process around the church holding an inverted chair? Never heard of it
    • Hymn of Judas
      • It’s kind of odd in the Coptic rite… addresses Judas directly; mentions the Resurrection when the Church is going out of her way to avoid mentioning the Resurrection on this day (e.g. creed, Trisagion, Liturgy of Faithful).
      • No information about where it came from or when it was introduced in the Church
  • Trisagion
    • Crucifixion
  • Litany of the Gospel
  • Psalm (Avchnon)
    • About Judas… as well as all the other psalms of the Eve of Thursday
    • 3rd Hour Eve: ”His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. Give ear to my prayer, O God, and do not hide Yourself from my supplication.” (Psalm 54:18)
    • 6th Hour Eve: ”Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from the violent men, who plan evil things in their hearts. They continually gather together for war.” (Psalm 139:1,2)
    • 9th Hour Eve: ”O Lord my God, in You I put my trust. Save me from all those who persecute me, and deliver me lest they tear me like a lion.” (Psalm 7:1,2)
    • 11th Hour Eve: “In God is my salvation and my glory, and my refuge is in God. He is my defence, I shall not be greatly moved.” (Psalm 61:1,4)
    • 1st Hour Day: “His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, then I could hide from him.” (Psalm 54:21, 12)
  • Gospel (Preparation of the Passover)
  • Exposition
  • Daytime Litanies
  • Conclusion
  • Close the Curtain
• The Gospel of Luke is read inaudibly

3rd, 6th, 9th Hours of Thursday

• Regular Pascha Rite
• Gospels are about the preparation of the Passover
• 3rd Hour
  • Exodus: Moses attempts to go between the people and God to intercede for them after the golden calf. 
• 6th Hour
• 9th Hour
  • Prophecy from Genesis 22 - the slaughter of Isaac, the Akedah.
  • Jewish link between Akedah and Passover

Liturgy of the Waters

• Annual Tune
• Rite of Laqqan (we discussed in Theophany)

Liturgy of the Eucharist

• Annual Tune
• No Lord have mercies in Offertory
  • Lord have mercies are related to the Agpeya
  • Original was Alleluia of Oblations which is “Alleluia this is the day…” but that’s a hymn about the Resurrection
  • So we stay silent
• No “Saved Amen”
• No Hitens
• No Catholic Epistle, No Praxis, No Synaxarion
  • Some old manuscripts have a Catholic Epistle (1 Peter 2:20-25)

    • For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

      “Who committed no sin,
      Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

      who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 

  • Praxis was read in Matins - used to be for Liturgy but was moved to Matins so that the focus is not divided
    
• No Reconciliation Prayer
  • The Reconciliation between God and man is not done until the Crucifixion and is not revealed until the Resurrection. So we will not pray this on Thursday OR Saturday but will pray it again on the Resurrection Feast
• No “He rose from the dead…” and instead “He came to the slaughter as a Lamb.”
• No Commemoration of the Saints
  • How would we say “Those O Lord whose souls you have taken repose them in the Paradise…” Liturgically, Paradise is not open yet, and those souls are in Hades.
  • But we will pray this on Bright Saturday because the Lord will go and take them from Hades to Paradise
• Fraction for slaughter of Isaac
• During Communion, no distribution hymns but rather, the 11th Hour is prayed 
• No “Our Mouth is filled with joy and our tongues rejoice for partaking of Your immortal mysteries.” Instead “We thank You, O Lord, Lover of Mankind, beneficent for our own souls, O You who - on that very day - made us worthy of Your heavenly and immortal Mysteries. For that which no eye has seen…”
  

11th Hour of Thursday

• During Communion with the veil shut
• There is no liturgical reason for closing the veil and praying the 11th hour. This practice was likely introduced in the 12th Century for the sake of time because in those days, the Myron was prepared on Covenant Thursday

Contemplations, Interpretations and Meanings

Judas' Betrayal

• See St John Chrysostom
• Did Judas take communion?
  • No consensus among the Fathers
  • St Ephraim, HH Pope Shenouda, others: no
  • St John Chrysostom, Origen, others: yes
  • Not doctrinally important
• Did Judas have to betray Christ?
  • No. His betrayal was free will
  • Some may argue "he did it that the Scripture would be fulfilled."
    • If Judas did not freely choose this path, then the Holy Spirit in His Foreknowledge, would not have prophesied it in the Old Testament
  • St John Chrysostom answers this with his intention
  • But also if that was the case, the time of repentance was still available
  • The Lord would still have been crucified and fulfilled the salvation without Judas' betrayal...
    
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIxQ5W2DKNU 

Washing the Feet and the Mystery of Love

• Sacrament/Mystery (Repentance & Confession)
• Spiritual Meaning (See "Washing of the feet" Lev Gillet)
  • Christ gives them His Body and Blood, and gives them His Word (Paraclete Gospels) but before doing either of these, He washed their feet.
  • I cannot deliver the spiritual word unless I first, like my Master, kneel before others in humility and service and wash their feet.
    
  • “If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:14-15)
    

  • “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

  • “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28)

  • The Mystery of Washing the Feet is the calling of every servant of God
    

  • https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/jp1hnyg278t42g2v4tyjc/Serve-the-Lord-with-Gladness-Fr-Lev-Gillet.pdf?rlkey=ap3bz7ne8oxp22040ybcwhh1m&dl=0 
    • Starting on Page 82
    • Not seeking prestige or authority
    • Humble servant of everyone
    • I live for you and belong to you because I belong to Jesus Christ
    • Patient and loving in every conflict
    • Humbly offer his own opinion, but equally concerned with recognizing others' thoughts or words
    • Committed to the Orthodox message but not hostile to others
    • Strive to correct misunderstandings
    • Patient and loving in insult or persecution
    • Never resist evil with evil
    • Never use or advise violence
    • Turn the other cheek
    • Give his cloak to him who needs
    • Go two miles with him who wants to go one
    • Devote himself to those who suffer
    • Must be, himself, purified first.
• "Do as I have done"

The New Covenant

• What is a Covenant?
  • Promise/Agreement/Contract
  • Covenant with Blood
    • And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.” (Exodus 24:8)
    • "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." (Luke 22:20)
  • Who breaks the covenant dies
  • Covenant with Abraham
• What is the Old Covenant?
• Insufficiency of the Old Covenant
  • Old Covenant is based on human effort
  • Human Effort Cannot Save from Original Sin
    • Is there anything I can do by my human effort that would save me from Original Sin?
      
  • Human Effort Cannot Keep the Entirety of the Law
    • "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10)
    • Even the prophets, who lived righteously... could not keep the WHOLE Law
  • Human Effort Cannot Forgive Sins
    • If you break a commandment, can you do something to wash away that sin?
    • Did Old Testament Sacrifices forgive sin?
      • Sacrifices were preparing them for the New Covenant
      • "For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins." (Hebrews 10:1-4)
      • If sacrifices forgave sins, then the prophets would all have gone to heaven... but they all went to Hades.
      • But by doing these sacrifices, they received the PROMISE of forgiveness because they are believing in the sacrifice of the New Covenant and are forgiven by the sacrifice of the New Covenant on Good Friday
        • "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Hebrews 11:13)
        • How do they accept the sacrifice of Christ 3000 years before Christ? God gave them a symbol - and when they believe in this symbol, they are believing in the sacrifice to come. And once they believe in this symbol and do the necessary works, they receive a Promise of forgiveness. And this promise is fulfilled on Good Friday.
  • Human Effort Cannot Raise me from Death
    • Punishment of breaking a covenant is death... if I break one, death. If I broke 100, death. So is there a difference if I break one or 100?
    • "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10) - why? Because breaking one is death...
  • Is the Old Covenant Bad?
    • No, but it is insufficient with our Human Effort.
• Promise of a New Covenant
  • “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah – not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach  his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
• New Covenant is Grace

  • Grace
    

    • Free gift given based on the goodness of the giver, and not on the worthiness of the receiver
      

      • Free Gift
        

      • Goodness of the Giver
        

      • Not on the Worthiness of the Receiver

    • You give $100 to a homeless guy outside

      • You don't check to see if he deserves it or anything, you just give it to him... that's grace!
    • What happens if it's based on the worthiness of the receiver?
      • Back to the Old Covenant!
  • God gave me His Spirit to dwell in me because of His Goodness, not because of my worthiness
  • "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."
    • St John Chrysostom: Homily 14 on the Gospel of John
    • But what have we received? 'Grace for grace,' he said. What for what? The new for the old. For, there was justice before and there is justice now: 'As regards the justice of the law, leading a blameless life.' (Philippians 3:6) There was faith before and there is faith now: 'from faith unto faith.' (Romans 1:17) There was adoption of sons before and there is adoption of sons now: 'who have the adoption as sons,' (Romans 9:4) he says. There was glory before and there is glory now: 'If that which was transient was glorious, much more is that glorious which abides.' (2 Corinthians 3:11) There was a law before and there is a law now: 'The law of the Spirit of life has delivered me.'  (Romans 8:2) There was worship before and there is worship now: 'Whose worship,' [Paul] says, and again, 'Who serve God in spirit.' (Philippians 3:3) There was a covenant before and there is a covenant now: 'I will make a new covenant with you, not according to the covenant which made with your fathers.' (Jeremiah 31:31) There was holiness before and there is holiness now. There was a baptism before and there is a baptism now. There was a sacrifice before and there is a sacrifice now. There was a temple before and there is a temple now. There was a circumcision before and there is a circumcision now. 
    • So also there was grace before and there is grace now.
    • But the first-named as types, and the others as the reality, have kept the same name, but not the same meaning.
    • Thus, even in pictures and images one that is done in black and white shades is said to be a man, and likewise one that has been done in realistic colors. Similarly, in the case of statues, both the gold one and the clay one are called statues, but the one as a model, the other as the real statue.
    • Do not, then, judge that things are the same because they have identical names, but do not decide that they are altogether different, either. In so far as a thing was a type, it was not completely divorced from truth. But, in so far as it continued to be shadow, it was less than the truth.
    • … 
    • Accordingly, what is the difference between all these pairs? Should you like us to choose one or two of the pairs I have mentioned, and to examine them? In this way the others also will be clear to you. And we shall all see that the types taught lessons suitable for children, while their realities belong to noble and great men; further, those precepts were given as to men, these as to angels.
    • After saying: 'of His fullness we have all received,' he added: 'and grace for grace.' 'Not on account of your increase in numbers,' Scripture says, 'have I chosen you, but because of your fathers.' If, then, it was not because of their own good deeds that they were chosen by God, it is evident that they obtained this honor by grace.
      And we, too, have all been saved by grace, but not in the same way as they. It was not for the same reasons, but for much greater ones, and more sublime. Therefore, [the working of] grace in us is not the same as in them. Not only was pardon for our sins granted to us, since we shared in this with them -since all have sinned-but also justice, and holiness, and adoption of sons, and grace of the Spirit, much more splendid gifts and richer by far. Through this grace we have become dear to God, no longer merely as servants, but as sons and friends. That is why he said: 'grace for grace.'
• The New Covenant is Sufficient
  • Human effort cannot save from original sin
    • Sacrament of Baptism
      
    • Christ with Nicodemus (John 3)
      • Even if you entered your mother's womb and are born again, you will be born with original sin again!
      • Genesis 1:2 - "And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." and from this, the whole world was born.
      • So  you will die in baptism - and rise a new Creature in Christ
    • When I am born again in Baptism, and the Original Sin is removed - is that grace or works?
      • A way I receive the grace of God
      • A baby who is baptized... what did he do? What action did he do to remove Original Sin? Nothing! So it is grace!
    • We are not saved by works, but we cannot be saved without works. Initial action shows my faith in the grace of God.
    • Protestants who believe in grace... reject infant baptism! Although if it is grace, then it doesn't matter if child or adult... if I say "when they grow up and understand" so now it's not grace! It's based on the worthiness of the receiver!
  • Human effort cannot keep the entirety of the Law
    
    • Sacrament of Confirmation
    • "I will send you the Holy Spirit"
      • Bring to your remembrance all things that I have said unto you
      • Helper: He is the Helper who will help you do those commandments
      • If you are tempted to do evil, the Holy Spirit will convict you (of sin, righteousness and judgment)
      • Comforter: If Satan gives you a hard time, the Holy Spirit will comfort you
      • If you commit a sin, the Holy Spirit will sanctify you
    • In the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit was working externally; in the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit dwells in you
    • In the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit was helping with certain roles: prophet, judge, king, priest; in the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit is working for my salvation
  • Human effort cannot forgive sins
    
    • We all resist the Holy Spirit, grieve the Holy Spirit, quench the Holy Spirit, break the commandment of God, sin...
    • How is our sin forgiven in the New Covenant?
    • "By My Blood, I will open an account for each one of you in the bank of forgiveness. And this account has enough forgiveness to forgive all sins for all peoples in all ages. My Blood is sufficient to cover all sins for all peoples at all times in all places. Grace! Free gift. I do it because I love you."
      • So what should I do?
      • Can I withdraw forgiveness from this bank?
      • Go to the bank and tell them "I need money." He'll check your ID to make sure you're the person. He'll ask how much you want, and he'll give it to you.
      • The Lord said "I will appoint tellers in the bank of forgiveness."
        • They will check your ID
        • They will ask how much money (forgiveness) you want
        • They will give you the money (forgiveness)
      • Teller: Priesthood
      • ID
        • Only those who believe in Me can withdraw from this account.
        • Children of God got rid of their Original Sin
        • They have the Seal of the Holy Spirit
        • They live the life of repentance
      • How much money?
        • I need forgiveness for my lying
        • I need for swearing
        • I need for judging
        • If I don't tell him that I need for lustful thoughts, then he won't give me for it
    • Grace of forgiveness of sin through:
      • The Sacrament of Repentance and Confession
      • The Sacrament of Priesthood
    • "Why can't I go to God directly?"
      • God will tell you go back to my tellers and my bank! I want to forgive you! It's free! Go and get it!
      • And when I sin... I separate myself from God. There is no communion between light and darkness, between sinfulness and righteousness
  • Human effort cannot raise from death
    • If you have a dead battery, you recharge it. If you connect it to a live battery, the life will transferred from it to the dead one.
    • God says Every time you sin, you die. So I will leave to you my Life-Giving Flesh, given for us for salvation, remission of sins and eternal life to those who partake of Him.
    • Eucharist
• Superiority of the New Covenant
  • "I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (Jeremiah 31)
    • Eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth --> Right Cheek? Turn the other
      
    • Love your neighbor, hate your enemy (Cain killed his brother) --> Love your enemy
      
    • Do not commit adultery (David couldn't keep this) --> Don’t even look with a lustful eye
      
    • Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce...
      • Hardness of heart in the Old Covenant was the only option... no grace yet!
      • Non-believers have a hard heart... they don't have the Holy Spirit yet!
      • Believers who have quenched the Holy Spirit, have a hardened heart.
  • “None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.” (Hebrews 8:11, Jeremiah 31:34)
    
    • No Mediator (prophet, priest, king) but you can approach God directly
      
      • Talk to God? Priest
      • God talk to you? Prophet
      • God's rule executed? King
  • “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12, Jeremiah 31:35)
    In the New Covenant, our sins are forgiven
    

Appendix

History of Preparing the Myron

• Who?
  • The Pope of Alexandria
  • Cannot be made in the time of a vacant Papacy
  • Cannot be made by a regular bishop or metropolitan
  • Thus, it was typically made in the Papal Residence wherever that was (e.g. Alexandria, St Macarius, Al Muallaqah, etc.)
• Where?
  • St Mark Alexandria - 2 Times
  • St Macarius Monastery - 13 Times
  • St Mary Al Muallaqah - 6 Times
  • St Abu Sefein Old Cairo - 2 Times
  • St Mary Haret Al Rum - 3 times
  • St Mark Azbakiah - 4 times
  • St Bishoy Monastery - 6 times (Pope Shenouda), 4 times (Pope Tawadros)
  • Eritrea - 1 time (Pope Shenouda)
• When?
  • Letter of Macarius
  • Early Church: No particular time; associated with baptismal seasons (Canons of Hippolytus 19)
  • 4th - 6th Century:
    • As needed on Last Friday of Lent (which would be Friday of the sixth week of Lent in the old days).
  • 6th - 10th Century:
    • With addition of preparation week, Friday of the sixth week is now the weekend BEFORE the end of the Great Fast. So that weekend becomes known as Sunday of Baptism - Myron is consecrated on Friday, baptisms happen on Sunday
    • Friday acquires anointing of the sick instead (and in all years)
  • 10th Century:
    • Consecration of Myron moved to Great Thursday (Pope Macarius I, early 10th Century)
    • Compromised to once sixth Friday (Baptism weekend), and once Great Thursday (Pope Mina II, late 10th Century)
    • Remained on Great Thursday under the influence of Pope Abraam Ibn Zareh (late 10th Century)
    • The Eastern Orthodox (Byzantium) consecrate on Great Thursday even until today
      • More than likely, we adopted this practice because it was being done on that day in Antioch (common center between the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox... especially that Pope Abraam was a Syrian).
  • 20th Century:
    • Pope Kyrillos VI held it on Palm Sunday after the General Funeral prayers to give people a chance to attend - he was intending to do it in Al Muharraq but for people to attend, he held it in St Mark's Cathedral
    • Pope Shenouda always did it during the Great Fast prior to Holy Week
  • 21st Century:
    • Pope Tawadros followed the same custom and made it a consistent "every three years" (2014, 2017, 2021 (because COVID), 2024) - planned for 2027 - on the first Monday of the Great Fast, doing the final step of adding the Old Myron to the new Myron following the Divine Liturgy.

Resources

Cited

• Covenant Thursday
  • Holy Pascha, Book 3 Covenant Thursday - Fr Athanasius El Makary: Amazon Purchase Link
  • ACTS 3045 Course with Fr Arsenius Mikhail (Lectures, Slides and Notes below)
    • Lecture Part 1 
    • Lecture Part 2 
  • Treasures of the Fathers of the Church - Holy Thursday:
    • Amazon Purchase Link
    • PDF (Old Version) 
• Passover and the Eucharist
  • Coptic Reader --> Special --> Pascha --> Thursday --> Insights
    • Passover Ritual
    • Passover Eating Place
    • The Four Passover Cups
  • Asaph Lectures by Fr Victor: 
    • Lecture 2 - Passover in Exodus vs. Deuteronomy: Video 
    • Lecture 3 - Passover in the Time of the Lord: Video 
    • Lecture 4 - Passover in the Gospels; Four Cups: Video 
    • Lecture 5 - The Meaning of Eucharist and Haggadah Pascha of the Jewish Tradition: Video
  • Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist (Brant Pitre): Amazon Purchase Link
  • Modern Passover Seder (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover_Seder 
  • COA Podcast (~38min): YouTube
• Judas
  • Fr Matthias Bible Study on Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, John 13: YouTube 
  • St John Chrysostom Homily 82 on Matthew: Online
  • Predestination, Providence & Prayer - Fr Thomas Hopko: Podcast Link
    • This doesn't talk about Judas specifically but it's a very good presentation of the topic of God's Foreknowledge and our Free Will (and effectivity of Prayer)
• Washing the Feet
  • Serve the Lord with Gladness - Lev Gillet: PDF Link
• Old Covenant vs New Covenant
  • St John Chrysostom Homily 14 on John: Online, PDF
  • Old Covenant & the New Covenant - HE Metropolitan Youssef: SoundCloud
• Making of Myron
  • History of Making the Holy Chrism (Deacon Roshdi): PDF Link 

Referenced

• Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Info Link
  • Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
• Welcoming Gifts - Jeremy Davis: Amazon Purchase Link
• Offerings, Sacrifices & Worship in the Old Testament: Amazon Purchase Link
• 2021 Priest Meeting Lectures on Pascha by Fr Victor
• Holy Week Contemplations - HH Pope Shenouda: PDF
• Crucifixion of the King of Glory - Dr Eugenia Constantinou: Amazon Purchase Link