Remembering a July 2nd Feast

There has always been tremendous respect for the Ark of the Covenant, for it was this unique, carefully crafted gold chest of incorruptible wood that was the most important possession to the Israelites. it contained the 10 Commandments, the gold urn with relics of the manna the Israelites were fed as they journeyed to the Promised Land, and it also contained the priestly rod of Aaron. Yet Professor Courtenay Bartholomew, M. D., who authored A Scientist Researches Mary, The Ark of the New Covenant stated, “The ancient Ark was only a herald of the new and living Ark. This new Ark is among us, appearing all over the world and calling us to renew and observe the Covenant with God for she is truly the living Ark of the Covenant. Her name is Mary.”

      July 2^nd is the perfect day to delve deeply into a greater understanding of the Woman of the Apocalypse whom in the Litany of Loreto, we address as The Ark of the Covenant! According to a liturgical calendar of the seventh century, Ordo de Fiflis Grego-Palestinino, July 2, was recorded as the Feast of the Ark of the Covenant and around 444-460 AD a basilica was built, right outside Jerusalem in Kiriath-jearim. It was the first Christians who wanted to consecrate the memory of the “dwelling of God.”  Why? This is the area where the Ark of the Covenant had rested. For nearly a century before King David took it up to Jerusalem, the holy Ark remained in the village of Kiriath-jearim.  “The men of Kiriath- jearim came and, taking up the ark of Yahweh, brought it to the house of Abinadab in the hill.” (1 Samuel 7:1) 

If we turn to the Gospel according to St. Luke, we will see how Luke unlocks the key to the Ark of the Covenant!  Luke is reminding us of the Old Testament stories about the Ark of the Covenant and if we listen carefully, we realize that he is unveiling the New Testament story of the Ark of The New Covenant! God with us, Emmanuel, the Son of God born of a Woman, but not just any woman! Luke draws us into the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth and deliberately alludes to the “exultation” over the ark by having Elizabeth “exult” over Mary in the song of praise we now call the Magnificat. By choosing this unique and special word, “exulting “ or anaphoneo, Luke is giving his readers a clue that that the young mother of the Messiah is the Ark of The New Covenant. This word is only used once in the New Testament and only five times in the Old Testament. Every time it is used, it is significant to the stories surrounding the Ark of the Covenant.

Recall how the Angel Gabriel hails Mary, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” (1:28). Filled with exuberance Elizabeth exults, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” and, “blessed is she who believed!” (1:42, 45). Mary says, “From now on all generations will call me blessed” (1:48). And Mary’s womb was the ark of this new covenant, the special place where the incarnate God-Man tabernacle, or ” dwelled” among us.

Bravo, St. Luke!! What detailed care and attention you have revealed to us that Mary’s role in salvation history is to assume the role that was once played by the Ark of the Covenant-however to a far greater degree!! Like the golden ark, Mary is the sacred vessel where the Lord’s presence dwells among His people! O Mary, Ark of The New Covenant, pray for us!

Happy Feast of the Ark of The Covenant from the Old Testament!