Msgr. Ćosić celebrated the Eucharist on behalf of the Archbishop of Vrhbosna, Msgr. Tomo Vukšić, and five priests concelebrated. Introducing in to the celebration, he reminded that for several years now, CCEE has been inviting its members to join the Lenten spiritual initiative called the Eucharistic Chain, which consists of celebrating Holy Mass and praying for one intention.

Just Peace

“This year's intention is 'for just and lasting peace', especially in Ukraine and the Holy Land. And, accepting the invitation of the Council, our Archbishop has determined, as foreseen in the Council's calendar, that a Holy Mass for the aforementioned intention will be celebrated in the Sarajevo Cathedral. Today we pray for peace – in a special way in Ukraine and the Holy Land – but also in the whole world. In communion with our Archbishop and with all the faithful of the European Episcopal Conferences, we pray with our hearts tonight and we pray every day! For prayer is a very effective 'weapon' whenever we feel powerless in the face of the dramas and tragedies of our personal, national, European and world events that threaten peace", urged Vicar General Ćosić, who in his homily on the occasion reminded that the Church emphasizes that "the desire and burning need for peace is one of the 'signs of the times'", and in recent times also a condition of life in the modern era and man, and that peace is, above all, "the gift of the risen Christ who calls us to cooperate with him and people of good will in building and preserving a just and lasting peace".

Expressing his belief that it is clear to all people around the world that a just peace is possible and that it “springs from the heart, is a gift to people, is the fruit of love – and is a pledge of the future”, he mentioned that, on the other hand, “it is an undeniable and sad fact that peace, of all human and social values is the one that is most denied, imposed by force, bought with weapons”. “Moreover, we are witnesses that in our time, peace is sought to be achieved through war and the idea is spreading that peace should be defended by raising fear and distrust. Because of this and many other things, the wrong axiom is imposed that war is a means of achieving security and peace”, warned the Vicar General of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese, reports the KTA.

He explained that the fundamental reason for this is precisely that man is “too often ‘wrapped in the darkness and twilight’ of hatred that does not allow him to maintain peace within himself, nor to preserve peace in his relationship with others – and very often not even with God”.

Peace is the foundation of society

Referring to the passage from Leviticus, in which the holy writer points to what “destroys our relationship with our neighbour, whom he calls brother”, Msgr. Ćosić recalled that even before that, on the Tablets of the Testimony that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai, the holy writer wrote that the Lord had expressly commanded: “You shall not kill” [Ex 20:13; Deut 5:17]. He emphasized that on the basis of love “which always awakens in us the awareness” that God made each person “in his own image, after his likeness” [Gen 1:26], it is possible to build a just peace “which is the foundation for making decisions that promote fraternal communion, dialogue, respect for rights, mutual respect, and which paves the way, step by step, to a common hope stronger than the desire for revenge.”

Having said that in the Gospel, Jesus calls believers “to a love that sees deeper than what is seen with the naked eye,” i.e., “he calls us in our hearts to develop an attitude of attention and sensitivity toward those with whom he identifies himself,” he emphasized that every form of human love, including our Christian love, becomes authentic when it clearly ‘sees’ the mystery of the other, that is, when it pulls us out of our comfort zone and permanently directs us toward the other.”

He therefore explained that Jesus asks each of his disciples to make their faith in him “visible through acts of love for their neighbours who are privileged and the safest path that leads to his right hand (Mt 25:34).” “Through us, Christ continues to be present and active in the lives of others, in the world, and we continue to grow in love and gratitude to the Lord for each of his gifts, especially for the gift of peace”, emphasized Msgr. Ćosić and added that lasting peace is not built “on strength or by strengthening oneself, as some responsible European politicians claim these days” but “by acts of love by which we acknowledge to others and to ourselves that we are children of God: created with the same dignity, with the same rights – and with the same obligation to respond to the call to be witnesses and messengers of peace: this will give us and ensure a just and lasting peace”.

Concluding his sermon, he encouraged the gathering to pray that God “works even more powerfully in the depths of the hearts and consciences of those who can contribute to the speedy establishment of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and the Holy Land”, that “he continues to work in the hearts and consciences of all who in any way influence the preservation of peace in our country, as well as that he constantly encourages and supports our neighbours and ourselves in our efforts to proclaim and witness peace with our goodness, benevolence, love, kindness – forgiveness and reconciliation”.

At the end of the Holy Mass, Msgr. Slađan said that one of the reasons why there is no peace is precisely the lack of prayer and reminded us of the words of Christ: “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.” [Mt 7:7]. He invited the gathered believers to “take away” this obligation from this Holy Mass and continue to pray for peace.

Numerous nuns from various congregations, seminarians and other believers participated in the Holy Mass. The liturgical celebration was animated by the Cathedral Mixed Choir Josip Stadler under the direction of rev. Marko Stanušić.