Called to be a Donkey!

Called to be a “donkey” for Jesus – Yes, the “calling” is correct and to the point!  Would you like to be a donkey for Jesus? What would it be like for Jesus to be upon your back? What would it be like for the Son of God to lead you to places that only “He” can lead you to this coming Holy Week?

Palm Sunday Homily

“Fr. Tom Arnao” is in residence at our Parish of St. Thomas the Apostle.  He’s a storyteller in the grandest sense of the word. He mixes in humor to make a point or bring it home as they say. Due to health reasons, he needs to sit down and relate his homilies to us.  One feels like they are sitting in “God’s living room” when Fr. Arnao is celebrating Holy Mass!  It’s “story-time” for us big kids!

Today, we took a stroll down “memory lane” with him. We went back 60 years ago remembering his “First Holy Communion.”  

I won’t even attempt to tell the story as Fr. Arnao did – but I’ll try my best.  He shared how he was brought into Church with a couple of other boys about 7 years old at the time. Practicing for their big day, they were told to kneel by Sr. Reparata and say “Jesus, I adore you!”

However, one of the boys started to laugh!  Nothing was done by Sister at that moment, however, when it was repeated again – one knew what was coming!!!!  And so it did. . .a slap to the head of this poor boy!  He was then asked “what was so funny about saying “Jesus I adore You?”

His face showed a look of  surprise!  Clearly that was not what he had heard the other two times.  What he thought he heard was – “Jesus, I am a donkey!” Sister was not very happy with his explanation and clearly did not want to further the conversation.

Called to be a Donkey!

Fr. Arnao then related how this young child of 6 or 7 years old pondered the thought of being a donkey for Jesus.  He verbalized his thoughts to Sister Reparata who was not prepared for this boy’s “elevated thinking.”  It seemed clear that possibly the Holy Spirit was speaking not only in this situation back 60 years ago but as Fr. Arnao put it – to the here and now of this Palm Sunday. . .to us seated in the pews.

He told us this coming week there will be a cast of characters that we could contemplate the “Passion” with, however, what would it be like to be a donkey?

So, I went to the “Poem of the Man God” this afternoon in prayer. For those who do not know this book, it is a narrative between Jesus and a victim soul – Maria Valtorta.  It was first published in 1956 and written between January, 1944 and April of 1947.  I was first introduced to these books by a Carmelite priest in the 90’s and they have been a “go-to” book to flesh out the Bible for me.

The  Donkey’s Passage on Palm Sunday

This passage relates to Jesus mounting the donkey on Palm Sunday – taken from the “Poem of the Man God – Volume 5.”

“In fact Jesus points to the little colt, which had never been ridden before, as His mount.  One man kneels down with one knee on the ground and the other placed as a step for the Lord, Who sits on the back of the colt.  

The journey begins with Peter walking on one side of the Master and Isaac on the other, holding the reins of the unbroken animal which proceeds calmly, as if it were accustomed to that task. The animal was without becoming restive or being frightened by the flowers that, thrown as they are towards Jesus, often strike the eyes or the soft muzzle of the little colt.  

He is not even scared by the branches of olive-trees and palm leaves shaken in front of and around it, or are thrown on the ground to form a carpet with flowers.  

It is not even frightened by the shouts of Hosanna, Son of David! that are becoming louder and louder as the crowd becomes larger and larger with the arrival of newcomers.”

The Many Roads of the Donkey

In reading the passage from the Poem of the Man God – and the explanation that the little colt had no fear with what was being thrown in front of him  as he carried the King of Kings upon his back, I related it to this upcoming sacred Holy Week.  We, too, never know what we will encounter in the course of our daily duties. We go without fear because Jesus is not only with us but gently guiding us as he did the donkey.

I thought back to the time that Our Blessed Mother went in haste to visit Her cousin Elizabeth. Surely – She rode on the back of a donkey!  She stayed 3 months with Her cousin and went without fear especially pregnant with Jesus.

And again. . .it would be a donkey that St. Joseph led to Bethlehem with our Blessed Mother on its’ back so She could give birth to Baby Jesus.

In the middle of the nite – awakened from sleep – it would be a donkey who would lead the Holy Family on a long journey safely to Egypt!

Yes, the “donkey” had many roads to trod upon with the “Holy Family” upon its back. . .and we, too, have many roads to trod upon as well. . .but Jesus is with us. . .

Might This Be Your Calling?

As I write this blog it is Sunday nite – the eve of Palm Sunday.  The week is before us with “Reconciliation Monday” tomorrow – followed by the days leading up to the Lord’s Supper, Good Friday, Holy Saturday – the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday!

Whew!  What a line-up!  It is the most sacred time of the year for us. . .and where will we be led to?

How will we spend this week?  Might this be your calling?  To be a “donkey?”  

Would you be fearful as to where Jesus might want to lead you?

Would you be fearful as to what might be asked of you?

In the Garden of Olives – the three apostles fell asleep and Jesus came out and woke them.  Will we be sleeping as this donkey is above?

Yes. . .we are called to console our dearest Jesus – we are called to console our Blessed Mother.  We are called in so many ways  . . .to be at the Foot of the Cross with the Mother, St. John and St. Mary Magdalene.

 

Adore Him!

This post began with the words the little boy laughed at – “Jesus, I adore You” when he did not hear the correct words from Sr. Reparata.  

In another one of my go-to books – “He and I,” Jesus tells Gabrielle too. . .

“Adore – Give Thanks.”  

“And when I ask you to be simple, I mean above all in your relations with Me.  Don’t get the idea that I need any special words or gestures; just be yourself.  Who is closer to you than God?”

A donkey is a simple animal – and yet it carried the King of Kings on its’ back as well as the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph.

Can you imagine carrying the King of Kings upon your back?  Or in a better way – “in your heart” – as He asks Gabrielle above –

“Who is closer to you than God?”

Jesus asks us to be “Simple.”

 

 

Jesus may want to use us this week as the “donkey” in giving help to our neighbors. ” Don’t forget”- He tells Gabrielle – “that in serving them you are serving me.  That should give you courage, and you’ll need great courage to become holy.  Never lose sight of the goal – holiness; that means to be always in readiness for Me.  Would I ever ask anything that was too difficult for you?  Just live in My love – holy, one moment at a time

Drive out all worries, all idle dreaming,  Don’t complicate things.  Give Me your soul simply.  I am all simplicity.  Wasn’t I very simple in My prayer in the Garden of Gethesmane?  And in the hands of the men who put Me to death; even on My cross?  Did I seem like a God?”

Jesus tells us to be “always in readiness” for Him. . .just as the “donkey” was ready for Him to ride upon his back on Palm Sunday.

Let us be ready, too for Him .  . .this coming week!  Let us take Him where He wishes to go.

 

The Donkey’s Cross

I would like to end this blog with the legend of the “Donkey’s Cross.”

The “Legend of the Donkey’s Cross” is a Christian legend that explains the symbolic markings on some donkeys’ backs. According to the legend, the donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday followed him to Calvary, where he witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion. Grief-stricken, the donkey turned away but remained at his station. The shadow of the cross then fell upon the donkey’s back, leaving a permanent marking that all donkeys are said to have inherited. 

 

Jesus, I Adore You!

 

 

 

©2025 Anita Guariglia

Photo Credits/ Pinterest and Instagram

The Poem of the Man-God – Volume 5 – Page 397

He and I – Gabrielle Bossis – Sept. 10, 1942 –