Yesterday's liturgy makes us aware of the difference between being attracted to Jesus and being willing to life the life that Jesus asks of us.
The crowd, many of whom had gone out to the wilderness to hear Jesus preach, some of whom may have experienced one of the miracles, this crowd is excited when they realize that their next trip to see Jesus will involve a shorter travel time. HE IS HERE! They exclaim. And they strew his way with branches of palm.
But his arrival in town quickly turns. In the place where they live, Jesus sees not merely their desire to know more. He sees, quite clearly, how they are living their lives. In today's reading, he notices how they have allowed the Temple to become a place of trade rather than a house of worship.
Many are attracted to Jesus - to what he says and to what he is able to do. But Jesus isn't asking us to be attracted - Jesus is inviting us to live our lives differently.
We like our lives - unfortunately. We are content with the way things are - really. And the thought of following Jesus, as attractive as it is, frightens us. It means opening our lives and our homes to the poor. It means welcoming in the stranger and caring for those beaten and left for dead.
The crowd welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with palm branches because they liked what he said. They were not so eager to change their lives. How willing are we?
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