True to tradition here in Hungary, today we are publishing a Good Friday sermon by a Hungarian clergyman. The sermon we chose this time was a sermon preached by Hungarian Primate Cardinal Peter Erde at Esztergom Cathedral in northern Hungary in 2018.
I hope everyone, wherever you are in the world, have a merry Easter. god bless you!
“Love is as strong as death (Song of Solomon 8.6). Blessed be you, Lord and King of all, who emptied yourself, took on human flesh, and walked with us in the path of life. He endured suffering and death for love.
We humans don’t really know what it means to love, but you are love.
Those who live in love live in you. You gave your life for us, sinful humans, even though few people sacrifice themselves for those who do good. But your sacrifice was made infinitely more precious, not by the suffering itself, but by the fullness of your love for the Father. Thank you, Lord. We are grateful for life, we are grateful for the world, we are grateful for this spring, we are grateful for all the joys and all the suffering. Because your infinite love unites all the beauty and all the pain of our life and the history of the world into one great harmony. And every detail has meaning, even if you can’t see it.
But if we say with you on the Mount of Olives, Father, not my will but your will be done, then our lives will fit into the mysterious divine plan. Then death will be fulfilled, and then the light of resurrection will shine. You shed your blood for us and for many others. You gave your life as a ransom for many, just as the prophet Isaiah prophesied about God’s suffering servant. And your blood is the blood of salvation, and Pope Clement VI said that one drop of that blood is enough to cleanse the world of all sin. But you didn’t give a single drop of your blood, you wanted to give every drop of your blood and your whole life for us. You taught us what it means to love God with all your heart, soul, and strength. We worship you as Christ and bless you. Because you saved the world through your holy cross.
Amen. “
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