Palm Sunday Homily: "He's Already Won"

April 2, 2023 
Fr. Witold Kaczmarzyk

In ancient times, palm branches were used to symbolize victory.

“You should ask yourself the question, ‘Why are we celebrating a victory before it has happened? Jesus celebrates before the victory happens, because he is God. He knows he’s going to win.”

“Palm trees are not native to Italy. They were brought there, because when the Romans began to conquer, they wanted to bring something as a souvenir which commemorated their victories back to Rome. That was the palm tree.”

“Jesus is coming into Jerusalem today, and people are waving palm branches, but they don’t know what the victory is going to be like. They thought it was going to be a political victory against the Romans.”–Fr. Witold Kaczmarzyk

“When people saw Jesus, who feeds people for free, heals people for free, raises people from the dead for free, it is awesome that he finally reaches Jerusalem.”–Fr. Witold Kaczmarzyk

“He told people not to tell others about who he was, or what he had done, and he went into hiding for a time until his time had come.

“What victory are we talking about? Jesus is declaring the victory over original sin. He is telling them now [on Palm Sunday] that ‘I am coming to defeat The Enemy.’”–Fr. Witold Kaczmarzyk

“The very first sin of the human race is disobedience to God. You don’t listen to God. So when Jesus comes as the New Adam, he wants to reverse the whole process [of death and disobedience]. ‘I have to be obedient. I have to do my father’s will.’”–Fr. Witold Kaczmarzyk

“Jesus is coming to defeat the ultimate enemy—not the Romans, but the devil.”–Fr. Witold Kaczmarzyk

“In our world, what usually comes to mind when you think about a donkey? You are ‘stubborn as a mule.’ I will use this image to show that when Jesus is riding this donkey, the donkey is moving, because he is unafraid—the King is here.”–Fr. Witold Kaczmarzyk

“Donkeys were not associated with stubbornness in Jesus’s time. They were symbols of two things: humility & obedience.”–Fr. Witold Kaczmarzyk

“Christ humbles himself in obedience to the point of death.”–Fr. Witold Kaczmarzyk

“A victorious general who rides a donkey is defenseless, vulnerable, and humble. He knows they’re going to come to kill him.”–Fr. Witold Kaczmarzyk

“He dies everyday when we celebrate Mass. Mystically, He dies every day.”–Fr. Witold Kaczmarzyk

Homework:

1. Take Good Friday Off (if you can). Don’t eat meat.

2. Come here at 3 PM on Good Friday, and Watch The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson (sans kids) when you go home.


“We are so in luck, because we know the ending of the story, already. We know that there is going to be a happy ending. The Apostles had no idea. So, we can really celebrate the whole victory of God, even a few days ahead of time. Let’s really go deeper into our faith, this week, because it’s Holy Week. It will help you to say thank you, every Sunday, starting today.”–Fr. Witold Kaczmarzyk

“His victory is yours. Let’s be thankful, and let’s be ready for the Holy Week.”–Fr. Witold Kaczmarzyk

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