They called it the Exodus
-- their journey from slavery to
freedom
In the course of the journey, a man named Moses was invited
to climb a mountain.
Mount Sinai
There he would meet God.
On that mountain he received what is now called “the
Decalogue” – the 10 Commandments – Laws that would keep the community on the
path to God
The people of Israel treasured this gift from God and
eventually built a container for them Called
it the “Ark of the Covenant”
Placed inside: two
tablets - jar of manna – staff of Moses
They carried the Ark everywhere they went - when they stopped they put it under a tent
called the Tabernacle. At times a cloud
called the Glory of God would descend upon it
They called it the “Shekinah”
When David became King he took the Ark up to Jerusalem
Bible describes David
“dancing before the Lord”
“skirtao”
Later, his son, Solomon
- built a temple & the Ark was placed in the “Holy of Holies”
586 BC Babylonians
destroyed Jerusalem
2 Maccabees suggests that Jeremiah hid the ark in the
mountains.
Everyone has been looking for the ark since them – including
Indiana Jones.
Many years later, an angel appeared to a young woman of Nazareth
“Hail full of grace
- the Holy Spirit will come upon
you, and the power of the most high will overshadow you!” “shekinah same word!
Mary said - I am the handmaid of the Lord – let it be done
to me according to thy word.
Moment of the Incarnation.
She becomes the dwelling place of God. The
ark in human form!!!
Mary – arose -
“anistemi” same word for
resurrection. went across the hill
country – to a place just outside Jerusalem.
Ein Kerin – where her cousin Elizabeth lived
Elizabeth said: “Blessed are you among woman” - like David
John the Baptist leaped before the ark
“skirtao”
Theotokos - God bearer
bring God’s light, God’s joy!!!
Jewish Tradition – There is an Ark in every Synagogue – contains
Torah scrolls
Every Catholic Church has a Tabernacle - holds
the Eucharist - true presence of Jesus
But both are limited by place
When WE Receive Holy Communion - we
become Arks as it were
Like Mary, WE have the opportunity to bring Jesus wherever
we go.
We can bring Jesus – Home, to school, the store, to the game,
to work
We have purpose – God’s needs us to bring Jesus there!!!
God bearer!!!
