He walked into town and found a group of people by the well. I'll show myself to them, he thought.  But they didn't notice him. They went on drawing their water and paid him no mind.

Throw your garments down, he said crossly. Don't you know who I am? They just looked at him in amazement. Someone slapped him across the tail and ordered him to move.

Miserable heathens! he muttered to himself. I ll just go to the market where the good people are. They will remember me. But the same thing happened. No one paid any attention to the donkey as he strutted down the main street in front of the market place.

The palm branches! Where are the palm branches! he shouted. Yesterday, you threw palm branches!   Hurt and confused, the donkey returned home to his mother.

Foolish child, she said gently. Don't you realize that without Him, you are just an ordinary donkey?

So we are without Jesus.  "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).