Let us go together

"to meet Christ on the Mount of Olives.

"Today he returns from Bethany and proceeds of his own free will toward his holy and blessed passion, to consummate the mystery of our salvation....

"Let us run to accompany him as he hastens toward his passion, and imitate those who met him then, not by covering his path with garments, olive branches or palms, but by doing all we can to prostrate ourselves before him by being humble and by trying to live as he would wish.

"Then we shall be able to receive the Word at his coming, and God, whom no limits can contain, will be within us....


"So let us spread before his feet,
not garments or soulless olive branches,
which delight the eye for a few hours and then wither,
but ourselves, clothed in his grace,
or rather, clothed completely in him....

"Let our souls take the place of the welcoming branches as we join today in the children’s holy song:

"'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Blessed is the king of Israel.'"
From a sermon by Saint Andrew of Crete, bishop
(Office of the Readings)