Sunday Reflections

Through the Eyes of a Donkey

Today marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most sacred week in the entire liturgical calendar of the church. It opens with the celebration of Palm (Passion) Sunday where Jesus triumphantly enters Jerusalem riding a donkey amidst the waving palm branches. We can glean a great insight into true stewardship when we reflect on this event through the lens of the donkey which is a metaphor for our lives.

From the donkey`s perspective, he sees a great crowd ready to welcome him into Jerusalem. He hears the singing of praises and sees them laying their coats and branches on his path. It would be easy for the donkey to feel prideful as he walks along. However, we as onlookers can clearly see that the crowds are not praising the donkey, but the one sitting upon the donkey, Jesus Christ.

As stewards offering ourselves to our parish community, we can be tempted to think that all of the compliments, praises and thanks we receive is properly owed to us. However, from this image of the donkey, we should strive to humbly recognize that all of our good works should lead others to Christ, not ourselves. The donkey served Christ just as we, through our time and talents, should serve Him and His body, the Church. This Palm Sunday let us ask ourselves, do we fully direct all of the praise, glory and honour of our actions to Jesus?

Summary

The donkey on which Christ rode into Jerusalem could’ve seen all the palms and praises being sung around him and been tempted to believe that he was the one they celebrated. However, we as onlookers can clearly see that the crowds are not praising the donkey, but the one sitting upon the donkey, Jesus Christ. This Palm Sunday let us learn from this image and ask ourselves, do we fully direct all of the praise, glory and honour of our actions to Jesus?