Parish Bulletin Article: "An Odd Animal": 4-9-17

            Have you ever thought about the donkey from Jesus’ passion?  I mean, we always remember the palms for Palm Sunday, but how often do we consider the donkey that carried our King to enter Jerusalem? 

I have been curious about this interesting animal and want to share some key notions for its important—though simple—job.  Today I will use two statements: one from a dictionary and one from the Bible. 

            For the first definition of a donkey can be found in a dictionary: “a domesticated hoofed mammal of the horse family with long ears and a braying call, used as a beast of burden; an ass.”

            Interesting…

            While the donkey is in the horse family, is it fast?  Nope.  Do kings sit on a donkey?  Nope.  Do children typically draw a donkey or a horse?  Usually the latter. 

A donkey is usually funny for us as it has “long ears” and a “braying call”.  I remember using a braying call as my youngest brother ate as a baby and I also called him a donkey!  Even today many people play a game called “pin the tail on the donkey” at birthday parties but in a different game, we call it horse not donkey (a shooting game in basketball).

            So how does this animal come in Jesus’ passion?

            Well, Luke 19:29-31 states, “When [Jesus] drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village opposite, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat; untie it and bring it here.  If any one asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this, ‘The Lord has need of it.’”

            Our savior chose a donkey.  He, our King, was the only person that sat on this donkey, a “beast of burden”.  He said that “The Lord has need of it.”

            I think that Jesus Christ showed this animal through his humility, his service, his offer and salvation for each of us.  He offered his life, not as the popular, powerful, rich, general warring or worldly kings but following his mission to give his own life on a unadorned animal. 

            Should we do the same?  Yes!  Should we serve our Christ through tough work?  Yes!  Does Jesus need each of us?  Yes!

If a donkey is called to carry Jesus Christ, you must listen for your job too.  As this donkey was the only animal in all of history, you must remember that you are the only person through all of history too.

Our savior taught all of his disciples to use our simple jobs for him, for sinners, for our neighbors and for the poor.  No matter what he calls us, let us quickly do our job!

God Bless!