
St. John refers to the "Feast of Dedication" stating, "The feast of the Dedication" was then taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter".
This celebration would be much like modern day Thanksgiving in the United States as the Jewish people celebrates the re-dedication of the altar and reconstruction of the temple in 164 B.C.
The Gentiles (Antiochus IV Epiphanes) desecrated the temple as prophesied by Daniel 8:13-14 which says: "I heard a holy one speaking, and another said to whichever one it was that spoke, 'How long shall the events of this vision last concerning the daily sacrifice, the desolating sin which is placed there, the sanctuary, and the trampled host'? He answered him, 'For two thousand three hundred
evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be purified".
Antiochus IV profaned the temple in Jerusalem by placing a statue of the Greek god Zeus Olympias in the Sanctuary.
After three years of resistance, the Jews were able to finally win as Daniel predicted.
With Jerusalem finally back into the hands of the Jews, Judah Maccabees led his soldiers into the holy Temple finding the place totally decimated, things were stolen, religious objects were found broken to include a golden menorah.
Judas Maccabees appointed men to build a new altar with uncut stones in accordance of the law.

"They reconsecrated the temple with songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals. All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success" (1 Maccabees 4:54-55).
They repaired and purified the temple, and after completing the task they decided to have a dedication ceremony and light the great lamp (1 Maccabees 4:49-50).
What is omitted from the biblical text is that the men looked everywhere for oil, but found only a small flask that contained enough oil to produce light for a day.
Miraculously, this oil lasted for eight days, giving them enough time to obtain new oil to keep the menorah lit.
This year the Jewish celebration Hanukkah or the Feast of Dedication (Josephus Flavius refereed this as the festival of lights) begins on December 2 and runs through 10 December.
Jesus is the light of the world and his light always burns for love of us. Jesus cleansed the temple of the "marketplace" it had become. The people asked Jesus, "What sign can you show us for doing this" Jesus responded: "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19). The Jews did not understand that Jesus was refering to himself. Matthew 26:61 speaking at the trial of Jesus by the Sanhedrin says, "This man said, 'I can destroy the temple of God and within three days rebuild it".

Jesus accurately predicts the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. by the Roman General Titus. This was the result of the Roman/Jewish war of 67-70 A.D. Many Jews were crucified, it would have resembled a huge forest. The Church had already left Jerusalem by this time and actually set up it's headquarters in Rome!

As our Jewish Brothers celebrate the miracle of the menorah this December, let us remember that Christ is the light and he radiates in his Church the seven lampstands. The seven angels of the seven churches seems to be the pastor of each church.
Revelation 2:7 says, "Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor I will give the right to eat from the tree of life that is in the garden of God".
This could be a Eucharistic promise as Jesus is the tree of life. The garden of God might be a reference to the Church. The Catholic Church is the Kingdom of God on earth.
This Advent, as we prepare for Christmas and Jesus first coming to the world through a humble virgin Mother, we look for his Second Coming when he returns to judge the living and the dead. May he find us with our flask of oil full and ready.
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