The Donkey

On this Monday of Holy Week, we hear from John regarding the events of yesterday, Palm Sunday:

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.

The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!’

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: ‘Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!’

His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, ‘You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!’ (Jn. 12: 9-19).

Jesus comes riding into Jerusalem on a donkey.  What about that poor little donkey? It is not a majestic animal.  It is not an animal that one associates with power.  It is a beast of burden.  It is a stubborn animal.  The donkey, is well, a donkey.  Yet Jesus chooses to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey.

On this less than glamorous animal, the King of Kings, Jesus, comes riding into Jerusalem.  What does this say about Jesus?  The Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, true God and true man, Jesus, takes on our nature in every which way.  Jesus is humble. Although he had every right to, Jesus does not lord it over anyone.  He is humble.  He does not force anyone to love or to follow him.  Jesus embraces the ordinary.  He sanctifies it.  By sanctifying the ordinary, Jesus also sanctified our daily lives and their ordinary routines.  There is nothing wrong with the ordinary; just as the donkey.  The donkey will tell you who is his riding companion, and he will exclaim: “Jesus who is the Christ!”

Let us pray:  Gracious God, you made all things in heaven and on the earth—those things that are wondrous to behold, and all of those things that are ordinary.  You bless everything, even the mundane.  Bless us, we pray, as we enter into this holy week, that we may see the eternal in the ordinary.  We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE:

Wednesday: Lenten Program at Trinity at 6 p.m. with Bishop Andy Doyle.

Maundy Thursday: Eucharist with foot washing at 7 p.m.

Good Friday: Liturgy at 12 noon.

Easter Sunday: Choral Eucharist at 9 a.m. with Easter egg hunt and potluck lunch to follow.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550