Mary is the Ark
Friends in Christ, as we approach the Nativity of the Lord, Mother Church has been giving us readings from Scripture to show us how Christ fulfills the entire Old Testament. The readings for December 21st and today cover Mary’s Visitation to Elizabeth. Let us today see another important sign revealed here.
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If you remember in the Old Testament, the holiest object of the Jewish religion, was the ark. This is not Noah’s ark, rather, it is the golden box which was in the Holy of Holies in the Temple of Jerusalem. The ark was the place where God himself came to dwell with his people. Incidentally, since the golden Ark held the presence of God, that is why our tabernacle has two angels by it – to recall the ark of the Old Testament.
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When King David brought the Ark up to Jerusalem, this important event is described in the book of kings, and if we look closely, we will see many parallels between the bringing of the ark to Jerusalem, and Mary visiting Elizabeth. For example, it says, that David ‘arose and set out for Judah.’ The gospel says, Mary arose, and set out.’
For David, this took place in the hill country of Judah, for Mary it says that she set out for the hill-country of Judah.
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It is written: ‘David leaped and danced before the ark; but we also see that John the Baptist ‘leaped in the womb of Elizabeth.’
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David asks, ‘how can the ark of the Lord come to me? as if he was not worthy. Elizabeth asks, ‘how can the mother of my Lord come to me?’ she felt unworthy.
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David shouts in the presence of the ark, Elizabeth exclaims with a loud cry in the presence of Mary.
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God came down when the glory cloud overshadowed the ark; and it was the Holy Spirit, that overshadowed Mary.
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The ark remained in the house of Obededom 3 months, and St. Luke tells us: Mary remained with Elizabeth for 3 months.
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So by the parallel way he describes the Visitation, St. Luke tells us, that Mary is the ark of the New Law.
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The ark contained 3 things: the 10 commandments, that is, the Law, it contained Aaron’s miraculous staff which proved who was the true high priest, and the ark also contained some of the manna from the desert.
Each of these, kept inside the Ark, anticipated Christ: The Law, was fulfilled by Christ himself. the Staff proves that Jesus is the True High Priest. And the manna – well, Jesus called himself the True Manna, the Bread from heaven.
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So Mary is the ark of the New Covenant. In her womb is the Law, the Priest, and the Bread of Life, and in just 3 days, all these signs will be reality: The Savior will arrive.
