Mary: The Ark of the New Covenant

By Sonja Corbitt
8/14/2009
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

The same Spirit that rested on the mercy seat of the Ark, filling the tabernacle �overshadowed� the Virgin Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant

We should bear our beloved Ark upon our shoulders as we move forward into battles of faith, proclaiming the Scriptures, blowing our trumpets, praying our prayers, processing in joyful expectancy for the moment when the walls fall flat. There is no stronghold that can withstand the power of God�s presence on the Ark.

Facebook Delicous MySpace

Twitter Stumble Digg

More Destinations

BETHPAGE, TN (Catholic Online) - Located in the Holy of Holies of the Old Testament tabernacle, the innermost chamber of the Holy Place, was a special piece of furniture. Partitioned off on one side by a veil richly woven in blue, scarlet, and purple thread and embroidered with ornate, gold cherubim, the ark, the most important object in the tabernacle, was enclosed on the three remaining sides with wood paneling overlaid with gold.

Within this beautiful cocoon, the ark rested secretly in the Holy of Holies, bearing the presence of the Lord in the cloud. Only about three feet by one and a half feet in size, the ark was made of cedar-like wood overlaid with gold. Its lid was decorated with two of the glorious, worshipping cherubim, beaten from one piece of gold that further enclosed the lid of the ark within the covering of their wings. Thus, the ark was carefully surrounded by worship, privacy, and mystery.

The word �ark� strangely and prophetically means �coffin,� since the Lord used it somewhat as a throne. Inside the small box were the following: the Ten Words (the Ten Commandments),a pot of manna, and Aaron�s fruited almond rod. All were fitting reminders of God�s perpetual provision for His beloved people.

The ark traveled everywhere with them. Borne on the priests� shoulders, it was carried like a litter, with poles thrust through rings on the sides which made its transport easier, and it was the priests bearing the ark that led the people through the wilderness for forty years, all the way to the Jordan River separating the Israelites from the Promised Land.

Bearing the ark�s leadership and the cloud of the Lord on it, it wasn�t until the priests� bare toes touched the waters of faith that they separated, in the same way they had at the Red Sea, to allow them to walk through the river on a dry bed. And so they processed across the Jordan into the Promised Land.

This Promised Land would be no picnic, however, for the first thing the people encountered was Jericho, a fortified stronghold whose inhabitants the Israelites had to rout in order to begin making the land their own. By perhaps the most unorthodox method in the history of warfare, the Israelites brought a coffin-throne, with which to do battle, to a siege (Joshua 6).

At the command of God, seven trumpet-blowing priests led the people and the ark in a procession around the city for seven days (Trumpets are a Scriptural symbol of the Voice/Word of God.). On the seventh day, after encircling Jericho seven times, and ending the procession with shouting and trumpet blowing, the walls of the city fell and the people took it completely.

I read recently that Mother Teresa prayed what she called �express novenas� to Our Lady. She would say nine Memorares in a row, all at once, when she needed immediate help. �Inspired by this confidence,� I realized something important. The same creative, speaking, brooding Holy Spirit �moving� on the face of the Genesis waters (Genesis 1:2) is the same Spirit, or �breath,� that rested on the mercy seat of the Ark, filling the tabernacle, and giving life to the Israelites through what He spoke to Moses (Exodus 40:34-35), and the same Spirit that �overshadowed� the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:35), conceiving new Life, the Eternal Word thus became the Incarnate Word, in her womb. "And the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us..." (John 1:14)

It is for this reason, and several other striking parallels that the early Church Fathers regarded Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant. The Ark on which the Spirit uniquely rested, and which accompanied the Israelites on all their journeys, was arguably the most integral part of the victory at the Old Testament Battle of Jericho, and I would suggest to you that she still is.

For what other reason does the Holy Spirit compel the Church to pray to Mary for her powerful intercession, if it isn�t to bring the Ark�s influence to bear on our lives and situations, and in much the same manner, processing with her around fortified strongholds in prayer?

A wonderful invitation of grace and means of �conquering� in our own difficult situations, we must be careful to bear our beloved Ark upon our shoulders as we move forward into battles of faith, proclaiming the Scriptures, blowing our trumpets, praying our prayers, processing in joyful expectancy for the moment when the walls fall flat. There is no stronghold that can withstand the power of God�s presence on the Ark.

Remember, most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly to you, oh Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me, and grant me�.

------

Sonja Corbitt is a Catholic Scripture teacher, study author and speaker. She is a contributing writer for Catholic Online. Visit her at www.pursuingthesummit.com and www.pursuingthesummit.blogspot.com.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords:

NEWSLETTERS »

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 10 of 10 Comments

Kevin Quinn
1 year ago
They found the Ark of the Covenant where Moses placed the 10 Commandments, in a cave under Golgotha.

http://arkofthecovenant2.blogspot.com/
Isabella
3 years ago
wow this is soo cool and i wish other teenagers felt this way
Jean
3 years ago
One last comment humbly and respectfully.

People say, "Why do you Catholics make abortion such a big deal?"

Here is your answer, The woman clothed in the sun and bearing a man child who would rule with an iron rod.

The Lord said when asked Jesus your mother and brothers and sisters are outside and He said, Here are my mothers and brothers and sisters.

This is one explaination why we uphold life so dear. Our Lady carried the living word----The Life that would abolish death.

Mother in heaven by your Son protect and love us all over the world at this time and into the future until His second coming.
We pray to the Lord.

God Bless.
Jean
3 years ago
Here is a story I heard about the Bible describing The Blessed Mother as foreshadowed in the Bible. How we explain her presence and importance in God's plan. Its simple.

The Mother of God was chosen for royalty as we all were.

She descends from King David and King Solomon.

Its a well know fact that the first wife of the Kingly Jewish line does not represent authority in the Kingdom.

The mother of the King or Prince does.

When the people of a kingdom had a problem under Solomon they would go to the his mother.

She in turn would present it to Solomon.

Do I need to explain the role of our Mother anymore to anyone repsectfully and with humility?

She held God and man in her womb why should this women not be made an important part of God's work and plan.

Also the Lord presented her as Our Lady and Mother to John His disciple the day he died on the cross.

This is another foreshadowing of our protective and loving mother of importance.

Also the Lord said no one goes to the Father except through Him the Lord Jesus.

Jesus is King of King and Lord of Lords and who are we to say that He cannot make this special for His Mother as to who goes to Him except through His mother.

Yes Jesus is King and Lord and Master but He told that His Mother would be called Blessed for Generations to come.

I obey Christ and if He sends His mother to us on His behalf I extend my hand in welcome and love to her and above all to Him.

Repsectfully and Humbly thanks be to God.

Let us pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who are being persecuted. This could be us someday or any day.
Reegina Raighn
3 years ago
Mary is the new Eve as Christ is the new Adam. Mary is Co-redemptrix with Christ. She is the Mother of the Church, of all mankind. She is my Mother for 87 years. I lost my earthly mother at age 5. Regina
Julius
3 years ago
Our mother mary is a mother to the world of faith not to the catholic alone but to the other churches and communities as well.
Ed Burke
3 years ago
OUR Blessed Mary, should belong to the world, but she is sadly, only a Catholic focus of reverence rather than one revered by every person. This commentary was excellent and irrefutably Mary was the Ark of the Covenant. I think we Catholics should make this point more with our Protestant bretheren who often mistakenly suggest that we pray to Mary, as we do her son. Our beloved Mother is so much more than just the Ark of the Covenant, as if 'Just' could be applied to such an honor.

Mary felt the sword pierce her immaculate heart for every spent drop of her son's blood. We need to point out that she suffered that day with Jesus, all the tormented way to Calvary. Can any mother imagine watching the nails be driven into her sons hands and feet to allow him to die in slow motion while hung on a cross of wood ? The suffering we each endure and hope brings us closer to her son on that cross is insignificant compared to the agony she endured that day.

Mary is our Pride in being human, she alone is Our Finest human, the very pinnacle of what a totally human person can be. She should make us swell with pride that she is one of us, a mere human. Not Moses, nor the Prophets, or the Martyrs, or the Apostles, or any other human was born without sin, she alone, the epitome of what we are all called to be. She is the Lampstand that shines the way to her son, our hope, and our life. It is hard to praise her enough, she is like no one under God.

I would like to thank Sonja Corbitt for helping spread the fame and truth of our Beloved Blessed Mother Mary with her excellent writing.

WE Catholics should occasionally stop and Thank also, a God of such Love and Wisdom to bless us with the person of Mary. She belongs to all the world, but to Catholics first, and we must never fail to see how Magnificent a gift she is.
Rod Yamat
3 years ago
An inspiring article. However in "Memorare"...it should be "sinful and sorrowful" and not "simple and sorrowful.

Thanks
Rod
jh
3 years ago
Terrific analysis.
Jennifer
3 years ago
Outstanding, Sonja. I really enjoyed reading this. Thank you very much.

Prev1Next

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment