Saint Andrew of Crete, an eighth-century bishop and theologian, in reflecting upon Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, once wrote, “It is ourselves that we must spread under Christ’s feet, not coats or lifeless branches or shoots of trees, matter which wastes away and delights the eye for only a few brief hours. But we have clothed ourselves with Christ’s grace, with the whole Christ – for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ – so let us spread ourselves like coats under his feet.”

As we enter into this Holy Week, we need to take Andrew of Crete’s advice and spread ourselves out before Christ; we need to join with other disciples and be there with Jesus on the path to Jerusalem, to gather in the Upper Room, and to learn the lessons of humility as our feet are washed and we learn to wash the feet of others. We need to sing in the garden after the Last Supper and be there with Peter as he denies the Messiah. We need to stand at the foot of the cross with Mary and John.

We need this week, which calls us to set aside our routines, to remove ourselves from all that is predictable in our lives and simply spread ourselves out before the Lord. We need to watch and wait together as we once again recall the events which gained for us the great and precious gift of our salvation.

(Fr. Michał Pająk, OMI, March 29, 2026)