Palm Sunday Reflection

Today is Palm Sunday, and in today's Office of Readings, there is an excerpt from a sermon by Saint Andrew of Crete (who was bishop of Gortyna, in Crete) related to the joyful greeting Jesus received as He, riding a donkey, entered Jerusalem (as we hear in the Gospel reading proclaimed at the procession with palms at the beginning of today's Mass).  Part of this excerpt reads as follows:

"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. He who came down from heaven to raise us from the depths of sin, to raise us with himself, we are told in Scripture, 'above every sovereignty, authority and power, and every other name that can be named,' now comes of his own free will to make his journey to Jerusalem. He comes without pomp or ostentation. As the psalmist says: 'He will not dispute or raise his voice to make it heard in the streets.' He will be meek and humble, and he will make his entry in simplicity.

"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."

 May every word of mine, every thought of mine, every action on mine, every breath of mine, every heartbeat of mine, every iota of my being, every effect that ripples forth from my being sing His praises and give Him honor and glory - this day and each day.

(In addition to being bishop of Gortyna, St. Andrew was considered one of the foremost preachers of his time and was a prolific hymn writer.)