“What makes the new Ark, Mary, holy was that it contained the fuller and living expression of the covenant – the living Word of God, the High Priest, enfleshed in the womb of Mary to give eternal life through the Bread of the Eucharist!”
Ever wondered why Catholics have processions with statues of Our Lady? Paul takes the answer from the Old Testament…
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What made the old Ark of the Covenant holy was that it contained the covenant items; the Ten Commandments, manna – the heavenly sent bread and the priestly rod of Aaron. What makes the new Ark, Mary holy was that it contained the fuller and living expression of the covenant – the living Word of God, the high priest, enfleshed in the womb of Mary to give eternal life through the bread of the Eucharistic!
When we look at Luke’s gospel, there is no doubt that Luke understood Mary as the New Testament Ark of the covenant, as he highlights parallels between Mary and the old Ark. He writes Mary “arose and went” parallels how David’s journey is described in 2Samuel 6:2. Both Mary’s and David’s journey proceed to the hill country of Judah. David acknowledges his unworthiness when he says, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” This echoes Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary, “Why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” David danced for joy before the ark; we find a similar expression to describe the leaping of the child within Elizabeth’s womb as Mary approached. The old Ark remained in the hill country for three months, the same amount of time Mary spent with Elizabeth.
The old Ark had to be carried in procession shoulder high on timber bearers, and this is why we see the statue of Mary carried in the same way in processions at great Marian shrines like Lourdes and Fatima.
