Detail from Portinari Altarpiece. Photograph: Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy
In the country fields of Bethany was born a sickly creature, repulsive to his mother and owner alike, abandoned to fend for himself. A creature destined to die but who held life. This is the story of a blessed creature - a donkey.
The compassion of a poor village boy meant a chance at survival for this deserted foal. The boy brought the newborn home and cared for him. Despite his efforts, the creature was quite frail; an unwelcome quality for a donkey. The boy remained hopeful.
He had two sisters, different in personalities but close in bond. One had a charism for hospitality and completed her household responsibilities with eagerness. The other was meditative and possessed a gift of gentleness. Both of them saw their brother’s desire to restore life to this creature.
For others, however, they only saw the frailty of the jack which made him undesirable all the more. His father forced him to keep this dreadful animal out of his sight.
The boy scrambled to remove the foal from his father’s presence and took him down by the river to a barn. This once abandoned animal now had something he had never known before – a home.
Their relationship was most unique. Perhaps since the boy had no friends to call his own, he sought companionship with a donkey. Exclusion by others led to a greater capacity for friendship and they enjoyed each other’s company. However, not for long.
Pressed for money, the father sold the land where the barn stood and promised the donkey as an incentive for the buyer. The new landowner found no use for the animal and passed him off to a traveling caravan heading north. Worthless to owners and passed on by all, the donkey left his only home and his only friend. From the back of the caravan, he watched the two sisters consoling their brother, getting smaller and smaller. Sharing in tears, as family does.
_______
“What use is this donkey to me if he cannot even carry his weight?”
“That is not my problem. It is yours, now.”
“I demand my money back. Had I known I was paying for a useless donkey, I wouldn’t have agreed.”
“Please sir, I have other customers. Take this animal back home.”
“You listen to me. If you don’t take this donkey back or return what I am owed, I will slaughter it.”
“Sir, you are the 6th customer to try and return this donkey to me. He’s the worst mistake I’ve made for my store. Nobody wants him. Go ahead.”
“Excuse me. I overheard you were selling a donkey.”
“Trust me, son, you do not want this animal.”
“Better to let it die.”
“I’ll pay you 5 silver coins.”
“What is your name, sir?”
“Yosef.”
_______
The new owner was a man of few words, with even fewer possessions. The donkey struggled to help the young carpenter. Yosef saw him valuable, still.
Early one morning, Yosef came into the stable with a young pregnant woman and prepped the donkey for departure. Unsure of the task, the donkey’s knees buckled when carrying this woman and her expecting child. Yosef stood by his side and led the way. In their midst, unexpectedly, the donkey managed to find strength.
In a small manger, a newborn infant was the subject of genuflection. The donkey – moved by an unfamiliar force – bowed to this child. The other animals followed in paying homage. Three men came and did the same. A group of shepherds made their way soon after, as well. Who was this child who brought man and beast to their knees? The creature knew not.
The young family and donkey eventually made their home in Nazareth. The donkey continued by Yosef’s side while the child grew in wisdom and stature. After Yosef’s death, the donkey was now under the care of his son. He took the donkey everywhere he went, often travelling far distances.
On one such trip, there was a commotion outside the village of Bethany. A man had died four days ago. A grieving woman approached Yosef’s son. She brought him to her sister at home. The sound of their cries was familiar.
“Lazarus, come out!”
Out of the tomb arose a dead man. The two women rushed to their brother’s side and consoled him. They were sharing in tears, as family does.
The donkey witnessed many things that day.
He saw a dead man walking.
He saw a man liberated from the clutches of death.
He saw the poor village boy who saved his life, restored to life.
The donkey saw himself as a very blessed creature, indeed.