KristyWes

Interfaithiness
For the past couple of weeks there has been a menorah (a hannukia, specifically) on the altar of my church. This is a church after my own odd little Judeo-phile heart! I love to celebrate Hannukah, and not just because it gives me an excuse to play Peter, Paul and Mary's "Light One Candle" in excessive repetition. No, more than that, it's a holiday with a powerful message and one that Jesus himself probably celebrated. In the Gospel of John (chapter 10, verse 22) we see Jesus in Jerusalem at the Temple for the Feast of Dedication, aka Hannukah. The holiday commemorates the re-dedication of the Temple, which had been desecrated by a statue of Zeus and pagan sacrifices during Seleucid occupation of Jerusalem (around 168 BCE). When control of the Temple was finally reclaimed, the priests removed the defiled elements, built a new altar, and re-dedicated the Temple with a celebration that lasted 8 days. During this season, reflecting on the Hannukah story, I try to examine what elements of my life need to be re-dedicated to God. What needs to be cleaned out, purified? What elements of the ruling culture have I let into the space that should be filled by God - what idols have I set up and worshipped in my heart? I may not have a statue of Zeus lying around, but there are plenty of other things/concepts/goals acting as idols in my life. I ask God to help me identify these, and help bring me back to Him.

"So, Lord our God, send out Thy light and Thy truth and let them lead us. Let them bring us to Thy holy hill and to Thy tabernacle. Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight." (from Psalm 43)

Happy 6th Night of Hannukah everyone! [Aside, related to this blog's title: Did y'all see that "truthiness," a word credited to comic-genius Stephen Colbert, won Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year? Click here to read Colbert's crazy-hillarious acceptance speech.]