One of the atrocities that led to the Maccabean revolt against the Greek occupiers was the desecration of the temple in Jerusalem. When the Jewish army recaptured the city their first thought was how to re-sacralize the temple in order to re-introduce worship. For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of deliverance and praise. The memory of this event is celebrated each year as the Feast of Hanukkah. Jesus was also concerned about the sacred nature of the temple. Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out
those who were selling things. Sacred places should do sacred things. In contemporary times there are churches which are no longer needed for worship and put on the market for sale. The provision of the sale according to canon law is that the former worship site can sold for “profane but not sordid use.” A former church in Baltimore has become a brew pub calling itself the Ministry of Brewing. Brewing might be a profane activity but perhaps gathering people together to enjoy one another’s company challenges us to look for the sacred even in unlikely places.
