Sacred places were important to the Maccabees. After they retook Jerusalem from the pagan overlords they re-dedicated the temple as THE sacred space of the Jews. We remember that re-dedication to this day in the feast of Hanukkah. Jesus thought the sacred space of the temple was important and needed defending from those who were violating its spiritual identity. Sacred places are important to us as well. We need those spaces that put us in the presence of God. That explains some of the pain that exists when a sacred space is removed from its purpose of worship. St. James experienced that pain when our Church was torn down. But we discovered that a new space can become sacred by the prayerfulness of its people.
