Unraveling the Mystery: Why We Hail Holy Mother Mary as the “Ark of the Covenant”?
Mother Mary remained hidden during her life. She is called by the Holy Spirit and the Church “Alma Mater”, Mother hidden and unknown. [True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin — St. Montfort]
All the Catholics pray in the litany by hailing Mother Mary with the title “Ark of the Covenant”.
Have you ever tried to understand the depth of this title of Mother? Is it Biblical? If, Yes What is the connection between the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament to Mother Mary?
If you try to understand the depth of this mystery through the Word of God, you will be surprised…. and filled with the Spirit of God. Mother Mary is the true ‘Ark of the covenant’ that God has given to us. He was giving a shadow of this mystery through the Old Testament.
Let's have a look at it.
The Ark of the Covenant was one of the most instrumental symbols of faith and God’s presence.
The contents of which included.
- Tables of the Mosaic Law.
- A pot of Manna.
- Rod of Aaron.
The Word of God says….
For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. (Hebrews 9:2–5)
How did the shadows in the Old Testament become real in the New Testament?
The Old Testament Manna serves as a foreshadowing of Jesus, who is the New Manna. Similarly, the Bread of the Presence in the Old Testament symbolizes Jesus as the Bread of the Presence, representing the Holy Eucharist.
Aaron, functioning as the high priest in the Levite priesthood, had his budded rod as a symbol authenticating his priesthood. In the New Testament, Jesus is the High Priest following the order of Melchizedek.
Let us make it more clear.
- Manna = New Manna, which is Jesus.
- Aaron’s budded rod, which is the symbol of the High Priest = Jesus himself is the new High Priest.
- The Tablets of the Covenant in the Old Law = Jesus himself is the New Law.
Therefore, the Ark of the Covenant is the pre-shadow of Mother Mary who carried Jesus, the New Manna, New High Priest, and New Law.
Therefore, Mother Mary is the New Ark of the Covenant.
More reflections inside the Word of God.
Ark of the Covenant was covered with cloth of pure blue.
It’s widely recognized that Mother Mary is associated with the color blue— in every apparition she is seen covering herself with a blue cloak.
If you read the Old Testament, you’ll see that the Ark was also covered with a ‘cloth of pure blue;’ [Numbers 4:6], “Then they shall put on it a covering of fine leather, and spread over that a cloth all of blue, and shall put its poles in place.”
Ark was captured by the Philistines, what happened to the Ark after that?
Even though the Philistines captured the Ark, wherever they put it, there was famine and plague, so they became afraid and brought it back to the Israelites. But the Israelites were also afraid, so they kept it in the house of one person (Abinadad) for 20 years.
Let's look into the reflections here. Ark of the Covenant and Mother Mary
- When David became King, The Ark was in Judah, and he went there to bring it back. (2 Samuel 6:2).
When Mary heard that Elizabeth was carrying a child, she went up to Judah to visit her. (Luke 1:39). - David said, “How can the Ark of the Lord come to me?” (2 Samuel 6:9).
Elizabeth cried out and said, “And how does this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” - When the Ark of the Lord came into the city of David, he leaped and danced. (2 Samuel 6:16).
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb. (Luke 1:41) - The Ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom (in Judah) for 3 months. (2 Samuel 6:11).
Mary remained with Elizabeth (in Judah) for 3 months. - The Lord has blessed the household of O′bed-e′dom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God. (2 Samuel 6:11,12).
When Mary visited Elizabeth’s house, they were all blessed and the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. - Ark returns to its home and ends up in Jerusalem where God’s presence and glory are revealed. (2 Sam 6:12, 1 King 8:911)
Mary returns home and eventually ends up in Jerusalem where she presents God enfleshed in the temple. (Luke 1:56, 2:21–22)
Finally. Where is the Ark of the Covenant?
Prophet Jeremiah Sealed the Ark inside the cave.
Prophet Jeremiah found a cave at the mountain where Moses had gone up and had seen the inheritance of God. He sealed the Ark inside the cave and said to the disciples “The place shall be unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows his mercy” [2 Maccabees 2:4]
St. John sees the Ark of the Covenant in Heaven.
In the New Testament — John the dearest disciple of Jesus reveals through the book of Revelation that “Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple” [Rev 11:19]
The Woman in Revelation 12:1— Mother Mary
In the very next chapter, he sees “A great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars;” and the church clearly understands it as Holy Mother Mary. Hallelujah!
See how wonderful the mystery of Mother Mary is hidden inside the Word of God.
This is why She is the greatest mystery that God revealed through Gabriel.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Praise the Lord. Ave Maria 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
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