My Broken Fiat
  • Blog
  • About / Contact Me
    • My 'Reversion'
    • Why "MyBrokenFiat?"
  • The Archive
  • Prayers
  • Blog
  • About / Contact Me
    • My 'Reversion'
    • Why "MyBrokenFiat?"
  • The Archive
  • Prayers

Palm Sunday's Donkey(s)

4/1/2012

2 Comments

 
Picture
Rare depiction in which the colt AND donkey are present!
So this past week, I discussed Palm Sunday with my CCD class.  After giggling like, well, sixth graders at the reading (in which the term "ass" is used in lieu of "donkey"), I made sure they understood the significance of that donkey and even the colt that sometimes seems so forgotten (because of that messy business attempting to explain why there might be two vs. one animal that Christ rode upon into Jerusalem). 


Greek translations aside, the donkey itself is extremely important for two reasons.  The first is obvious.  Christ came to fulfill the Promises of God the Father (which included reconciling humanity to Himself).  Prophets had come and gone, describing to Israel the events surrounding the Savior's coming.  Jesus fulfilled every single prophecy made about His arrival.  Nothing escaped His Will, even the act of riding into the city on the back of a donkey.

After giving them a brief lesson on the etymology of "ass" and "donkey," I asked them why they thought Jesus might choose to ride into Jerusalem on one.  The answers ranged anywhere from "Because He didn't have a horse" to "He was too poor to buy anything else."


I'm surprised no one mentioned He might be afraid of horses... Heh.

Anyway, I had them read that above quote from Zechariah 9:9.  After they'd finished reading it, I had them try again.  Why might Jesus have chosen a donkey for His grand entrance into Jerusalem?

One of my kids correctly said that Jesus had to do everything that was in the Old Testament because that was "His job."  (He totally got a piece of candy for that gem!  I love it when they pay attention to these things!)

I affirmed that though he was right, Jesus did come to "fulfill" the Old Testament prophecies.  But why, I asked, might God have chosen the donkey in the first place?  What did donkeys do?

Another child raised her hand and said, "They carry stuff."

Another chimed in, "Yeah, like blankets and baskets and stuff."

I smiled.  They were getting there!

So I said, "Yes!  You're on the right track.  That's exactly what donkeys did.  They still do today.  In fact, donkeys are responsible for carrying large amounts of heavy, heavy items because they are so strong.  Back in Jesus' time, they didn't have SUVs with huge cargo bays to hold everything.  Instead, they led donkeys around with their backs piled high with goods and equipment.  They were basically walking "trunks" that carried everything that their human masters didn't want to lug around themselves.  So why, then, might Jesus have chosen to ride on one into Jerusalem?"

Since they were still at a loss, I redirected them back to Zechariah and pointed out the word "meek" to them.  I then defined "meek" as the ability to endure suffering with humility and patience.  A donkey is considered meek because it patiently carries heavy burdens over long distances.  Even though the donkey may get tired or sore from such hard labor, he continues on, content to be serving as best it can.

That all being said, I again asked why Jesus might have chosen a donkey.  I saw some light bulbs flicker.

A hand shot up.  "Jesus is meek!  But He's meek as a lamb, not meek as a donkey."

I was surprised by that connection.  We had spoken about Jesus as the Pascal Lamb the week before, but I was impressed he remembered the term "meek" and connected it to the donkey. 

I explained (since the poor dears were so close but beginning to get flustered by the Socratic questioning):

Yes!  Jesus is meek as a lamb because He is The Lamb of God who consented to the Will of His Father, accepting death on the Cross for our salvation.  However, Jesus is very much like that donkey - He fully accepted the burden of our sins without complaint, humbly carrying them on His Back in the form of His Passion.  He was tired, He was in pain, and He was so sore, yet just like a donkey, He kept carrying our sins (truly the weight of the world) all the way up Calvary. 

Jesus chose a donkey because He was, in fact, beginning His own journey.  When the people accepted Him as the Promised Savior on Sunday, He understood that this acceptance would be short-lived.  The Essenes may have understood Him to be the Son of God, but the Sanhedrin most certainly did not.  Pontius Pilate and Caesar most certainly wouldn't have, either.  Thus, Jesus understood that He was coming to accept His Passion and Death in atonement for the sins of mankind... the price for our reconciliation with the Father.

It's interesting to note, BTW, that Jesus specifically requested the COLT of a donkey (which is basically a younger donkey who hadn't carried anything yet).  This donkey was innocent and pure, much like Christ who never carried sin of His own.

Father Byers (of Holy Souls Hermitage fame) even taught me through his blog that Christ was depicted in the early Church as a crucified donkey!  No April Fool's joke, I promise.  Read it for yourself here!

What's more, I found an interesting little poem regarding the "cross" that all donkeys seem to have on their backs (their fur just seems to stick out in this pattern).  It's similar to the story of Our Lady's blessing of the Tabby Cats at that first Christmas (which can be found here). 

Anyway, I shall leave it with you.  Enjoy!

Picture
Image of a donkey's back - most really do have this marking!
"Bring me the colt of a donkey,"
was the Master's request.
A young donkey was brought to Jesus
to carry him into Jerusalem.
A week later Jesus was ordered
to be crucified.
The little donkey so loved the Lord
that he wanted to help Him carry the cross.
But, alas, he was pushed away.
The sad little donkey waited to say
goodbye until nearly all had left.
As he turned to leave, the shadow of
the cross fell upon the
back and shoulders of
the little donkey.
And there it has remained,
a tribute to the loyalty
and love of the humblest of
God's creatures.
2 Comments
Katherine link
4/2/2012 01:01:49 am

I've always wanted, one day, to have a pet sheep. Now you've made me want a donkey too. Shhhh..... don't tell my husband. lol.

Reply
Gina link
4/2/2012 03:12:21 am

Your kids would seriously be the coolest kids ever. Can he really deny them donkey rides and adorable frolicking with lambs?

Plus, in the event that the car breaks down, he's got help lugging home the groceries... ha ha ha!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Top Rated Entries

    My Darkest Secret

    Do Animals Have Souls?

    10 Things a Parent of an SPD Kid Wants to Say

    Fun and Easy Lenten Crafts

    Tattoo Taboo

    Blessed Mother as Intercessor

    Loss of Life

    Women Priests II

    Animal Sacrifices

    Render Unto Caesar

    Veiling

    The Godparent Poem

    Broken Friendships

    Miscarriage Reflection

    NYT Anti-Catholic Ad

    Categories

    All
    180
    Abortion
    Adoption
    Adoration
    Adultery
    Agnosticism
    Angels
    Animals
    Annulment
    Apparitions
    Art
    Atheism
    Bahamas
    Baptism
    Blessed Mother
    Blessed-mother
    Blogging
    Books
    Boycott
    Breastfeeding
    Bullying
    Cafeteria Catholic
    Cafeteria Catholics
    Cats
    Ccd
    Celibacy
    Chaput
    Children
    Christmas
    Churches
    Confession
    Conscience
    Contests
    Contraception
    Cookies
    Corapi
    Crafts
    Creation
    Cross
    Defense Of Faith
    Depression
    Divine Mercy
    Divine Providence
    Divine-providence
    Divorce
    Dolan
    Donation
    Dreams
    Easter
    Education
    Eucharist
    Euthanasia
    Evangelization
    Family
    Feasts
    Food
    Forgiveness
    Free Will
    Friendship
    Fun
    Gaza
    Guest Post
    Hat Tip
    Health Care
    Heaven
    Hebrew
    Hhs
    Holy Week
    Homeschooling
    Homily
    Homosexuality
    Illumination
    Incarnation
    Incorruptibles
    Indulgences
    Infertility
    Inspiration
    Intentions
    Intercession
    Intercessions
    Interview
    Islam
    Jewelry
    Kidney
    Komen
    Language
    Lawsuit
    Lbm
    Lent
    Lightbulb Moments
    Liturgy
    Mandate
    Marriage
    Martyrs
    Mass
    Media
    Medjugorje
    Mercy
    Mexico
    Miracles
    Miscarriage
    Moderation
    Moses
    Motherhood
    Music
    Myla
    Nuns
    Old Testament
    Parenting
    Parishes
    Pedophilia
    Pentecost
    Persecution
    Personal
    Philadelphia
    Philly
    Pilgrimage
    Planned Parenthood
    Poetry
    Politics
    Poll
    Pope
    Prayer
    Pregnancy
    Priests
    Prophecy
    Propoganda
    Purgatory
    Question Box
    Quick Takes
    Random
    Recipes
    Reflections
    Relics
    Religious Freedom
    Reviews
    Ridiculous
    Rosary
    Sacrament
    Sacrifice
    Saint
    Saints
    Scandal
    School
    Science
    Seed
    Sewing
    Sexuality
    Sin
    Social Issues
    Social Issues
    SPD
    Spiritual Dryness
    St Anthonybd986ec1d5
    Steubenville
    Suffering
    Tattoos
    Terrorism
    TLM
    Triduum
    Trinity
    Trust
    Twa
    Vatican
    Veiling
    Veils
    Vincent
    Visionaries
    Wedding
    Women Priests

    Pages I Stalk

    A Woman's Place
    Dymphna's Road
    Having Left the Altar
    Fr. Z @ WDTPRS
    Spirit Daily
    These Stone Walls
    St. Joseph's Vanguard
    Catholic Sistas
    Catholic Icing
    Liturgical Time
    Traditional Latin Mass
    Shameless Popery
    Life Victorious
    Catholic Dads
    S'aint Easy
    Truth, Beauty and Goodness
    The Way Out There
    Written by the Finger of 
       God
    Little Catholic Bubble
    So You're a Church Musician
    There and Back Again
    Make It - Love It
    St. Monica's Bridge
    Seeking Renewal 
    Picture

    Archives

    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    December 2010
    October 2010
    October 2005

    RSS Feed

Copyright 2021