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July 1, 2022
God ties it all together and it is quite astounding!
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 The holy Ark 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! And amazingly, the Feast of the Visitation was previously celebrated on July 2.
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!
Our gold medal of Mary, Ark of The New Covenant is an act of deep gratitude to Jesus's Mother, for giving Him life so that we can all have life in Jesus. By sharing our medals that are now available in bulk, you and I can help fulfill Luke 1:48,
"All Generations Shall Call Her Blessed."
Like the Ark of the Covenant of old, our medals are a visible tabernacle of God's grace, to illuminate Jesus as a preborn child within the sacred womb of His Mother. Our medals speak to the world of the defense of life and by sharing in the work of distribution of this medal, which becomes a sacramental when blessed, we can thank God for the gift of life and ask His blessing on these medals as a means of recompense for the sins of abortion.
Happy Feast of the Ark of The Covenant from the Old Testament and Happy Anniversary Preborn Jesus Ministry!
