Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
“On the fifteenth day of the month Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-five, the king erected the horrible abomination upon the altar of burnt offerings” (1 Macc 1:54). Notice how this verse gives careful details about the date, but skips all the details of the “horrible abomination.” What exactly was that horrible abomination?
At the time of the Maccabees, pagans had overrun Israel, and many Jews began to lapse from Judaism into Paganism. They decided to adapt themselves to newer, Pagan customs, even if that meant violating their covenant with the true God of Israel, so that they could fit in better with the contemporary world. The real low point came when they set up some sort of “horrible abomination” in the temple in Jerusalem, even upon the altar of burnt offerings. What exactly was it? Why doesn’t scripture give us any details?
Rejecting evil, it seems to me, is an important part of choosing good. This is why in the rite of baptism, the candidates are asked if they reject Satan. Now, rejecting Satan is not the same thing as ignoring Satan. Far from it. But it does mean refusing to spend all day sitting at his feet, attentively gleaning as many curious details from him as possible.
Give the Devil his due, but do not give him the last word, or the first word, or even the majority of the words. For the most part, let him keep his details to himself. Seek, rather, the details of Jesus Christ, his person, and his message.