out is solemnly read, solemnly celebrated every year, so that our memories may
SERMON 218
ON THE LORD'S PASSION:
ON GOOD FRIDAY
Date: before 4201
The meaning of the passion
1. The passion of him by whose blood our delinquencies have been blotted out is solemnly read, solemnly celebrated every year, so that our memories may be the more happily refreshed by this annual devotion, and our faith rendered more brilliantly illustrious by the faithful people assembling in great numbers. So this solemn occasion requires of me that I should deliver you a sermon, such as the Lord himself grants me, on his passion. And indeed in the things that our Lord suffered from his enemies, he was pleased to give us an example of patience for our salvation and also for our advantage in the way we lead our lives, so that we ourselves should not refuse to suffer the same sort of things, if that should be his will, for the honor of the gospel.
The fact is, however, that not even in his mortal flesh did he suffer anything out of necessity, but everything of his own free will. And so it may rightly be assumed that by every single deed that was carried out and recorded about his passion, he also wished to signify something.2
Christ carries the cross
2. And first, that when he was handed over to be crucified, he himself carried his cross:3 by this he gave us a sign of self-restraint, and by going ahead like that showed what should be done by anyone who wishes to follow him. He also impressed this upon us by word, when he said, Let anyone who loves me take up his cross and follow me (Mk 8:34). You see, you take up your cross after a fashion, when you control your mortality.4
Calvary
3. That he was crucified at the place of the skull,5 Calvary, signified the forgiveness of all sins through his passion, about which it says in the psalm, My iniquities are multiplied above the hairs of my head (Ps 40:12).6