Gospel for 1 April, 2007

Jesus then went into the Temple and drove out all those who were selling and buying there; he upset the tables of the money-changers and the seats of the dove-sellers. He said to them, ‘According to scripture, my house will be called a house of prayer; but you are turning it into a bandits' den.' There were also blind and lame people who came to him in the Temple, and he cured them. At the sight of the wonderful things he did and of the children shouting, ‘Hosanna to the son of David' in the Temple, the chief priests and the scribes were indignant and said to him, ‘Do you hear what they are saying?' Jesus answered, ‘Yes. Have you never read this: By the mouths of children, babes in arms, you have made sure of praise?' With that he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

The acclaim that Jesus recieved was never refused. Jesus never denied His right to Kingship over Isreal. All He denied was the use of military force to bring it about. His Kingship was not to be bought with the shed blood of armies. His kingsom was purchased with His own Blood freely sacrificed on the cross.