The Donkey Speaks

Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family, Year A
I can’t believe they didn’t even mention me. After all, I did just about all of the work – it’s no short trip to walk all the way from Bethlehem to Egypt, let alone to have a heavy load on your back. And then, when the story was written down, the story of Mary and Joseph and their little baby boy, I’m not even mentioned. It would have been so easy to say that Mary rode on a donkey when they went to Egypt – but nothing. It’s as if I weren’t even there. But, then again, the gospel’s not really about me – it’s about the child, the baby boy I carried, the one they call Jesus.

This little family definitely didn’t have an easy life – first, Mary becomes pregnant miraculously, then they have to travel to Bethlehem when she’s almost ready to give birth, and with no room in the inn – well, you know the story. And now, to have to go all the way to Egypt so soon after the baby was born – if I were Mary and Joseph, I’d be wondering what kind of person God is to let so many obstacles be put in my path. But it’s strange – they never complained, they never questioned – they did just what God asked of them. It really was a great privilege to be with them on their journey to Egypt – to see how much Mary and Joseph loved each other, but even more how much they loved the baby. They had to set aside their own plans, their own family, to do what was best for the child, even if that meant walking all the way to the strange land of Egypt, where they didn’t know anyone. You should have seen it – the trust, the faith, the love that filled this little family.

Now, I know what you’re thinking – well, of course there was love and trust and faith, because this isn’t just any family we’re talking about, it’s the holy family. God chose Mary and Joseph because he knew they would be great parents, that they were up to the task he was going to give them to take care of his son. And you’re right – God did choose Mary and Joseph for this special role, but believe me, they were just as afraid as you would be if you were fleeing to Egypt so your baby boy wouldn’t be killed by a crazy king.

But this family does have something that not all families have – they have God at the center of their lives, as the focus of everything they’re doing – literally, the Word made flesh is a part of their family. Not every family has that. Now, call me crazy – I’m just a poor, lowly donkey – but from everything I’ve heard about God and about this baby, it doesn’t have to be that way; you can be just like the Holy Family. You, too, can have this tiny baby and the man he will become as the center of your life – you, too, can have the Word made flesh as part of your family, through the Eucharist and the other sacraments, through prayer and Scripture. Life is certainly not easy, but if you can keep the focus on Jesus Christ – and not on your own plans for success, not on your own possessions, not even on your modes of transportation, whether donkey or more sophisticated – if you can keep your focus on Jesus, then you can be like the Holy Family, because that’s all they did that made their lives so meaningful. But what do I know, I’m just a poor donkey. Read the story yourself to find out the truth.