“We will serve everyone.” (Saint Josemaría).
I have been reflecting on the donkey that Christ rode into Bethlehem on (inside His Mother’s womb) and the donkey that carried Him into Jerusalem before He suffered and died on the Cross.
Young donkeys are not beautiful creatures. There are so many other creatures more beautiful and majestic than a donkey. But Christ – who is GOD HIMSELF – chose to ride upon the back of a donkey on several occasions, and the donkey was significant enough for the Holy Spirit to ensure that it was mentioned in scripture.
Donkeys – particularly in Christ’s time – ate a meagre diet. Donkeys were hardworking, cheerful animals. They were quick at a trot and stronger than they looked. They were – and still are – a humble sort of animal, used on all the sorts of jobs that a horse would not be wasted on… It is as though – in the words of Saint Josemaría those animals think to themselves, “We will serve everyone…”
And I have been reflecting on the behaviours and attitudes of those Donkeys upon which rode the Son of Man… Because it seems to me today that they were included in Scripture as an example of how I should be…
You see a donkey knows that it is not beautiful or noble. It knows that a Prince and King will choose to ride a horse. And yet, the dinkey is not worried about others seeing its defects. Instead, it sees its defects as a symbol of its strength because it knows that it was born to be of service…
Saint Josemaría write in “The Forge” at page 683, “When a person really lives charity, there is no time left for self-seeking. There is no room left for pride. We will not find occasion for anything but service!”
And so I am going to use the humble donkey as my example today. Because the donkey is an example of how to be nothing… Because when I can be nothing of myself, then I can make room to allow Christ to be everything for me…
For Saint Josemaria said in “The Way” at page 592, “Don't forget that you are a... dust-bin. That’s why if by any chance the divine Gardener lays His hands on you, and scrubs and cleans you, and fills you with magnificent flowers, neither the scent nor the colour that embellish your ugliness should make you proud. Humble yourself: don't you know that you are the rubbish bin?”
And that is exactly what those donkeys did. They humbled themselves and understood their place. And because they were humble and not trying to be in the place of a horse of an earthly prince or king, the Prince of Peace and King od the Universe, rode upon their backs. And now all souls can say that it was the humble donkey that carried the Son of Man to be born and then to die – thus fulfilling the Scripture…
And I am thinking about that today. For I wish to become a donkey like that…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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