The most important item in the Old Testament is the Ark of
the Covenant. This ark was
initially held in the Meeting Tent which traveled along with the Israelites in
their wanderings in the desert.
Actually, it was God’s presence at the Ark that led the Israelites in
their travels. This Ark contained
three items: the Ten Commandments, manna from the desert and Aaron’s staff
which had budded. The only reason
for the temple—to which much of the Old Testament is devoted—is to provide a
permanent place for the Ark.
Mary
has rightly been called the New Ark of the Covenant. In holding Jesus Christ in her womb Mary held the
fulfillment of the Ten Commandments, the true bread from heaven and the
fulfillment of the Old Testament priesthood.
In
a sense, each of us becomes a mini Ark of the Covenant. We hold the Holy of Holies in our
bodies when we receive the Eucharist and in our minds when we read and pray
with the Scriptures. We are called
to emanate God’s glory to those around us that they may perceive God’s presence
as the Israelites did in the Old Testament.
In
seeking to follow God and imitate the perfect disciple of Jesus—Mary—it is well
to ask today, “Am I being a good Ark?”
No comments:
Post a Comment