The Ark Maker

Tomorrow is the last Sunday before Christmas.  The Gospel reading is a familiar scene.  Mary has travelled to see her cousin Elizabeth.  When Mary approaches Elizabeth, Elizabeth exclaims "how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"  We Catholics get a lot of flack over the years for referring to Mary as the Mother of God, yet here Elizabeth uses the same word that Luke consistently uses to refer to God, Yahweh.   The mother of the Lord, that's what theotokos is all about.  Not elevating Mary even more, but rather elevating our understanding of who Christ himself is.  Just like at the wedding of Cana, even the title we give Mary does not point to her, but to the child she bore into the world. 

I think Luke also purposely portrays Mary as the Ark of the Covenant.  What do I mean?  I mean that he portrays Mary in a way that indicates he was consciously attempting to link them as one and the same.  To a first century Jew the comparison would have been evident while reading the Gospel.  It would have been even more direct when reading the book of the Apocalypse.  That's where typology comes in to bible study.  Typology is the notion that a person, place or thing foreshadows a future person place or thing.  The future type is always greater than the previous one.  That's an important thing to keep in mind.

So let's compare the story of the Ark, with the story of Mary:

• The Spirit of God overshadowed both Mary and the Ark. Exodus 40:34-35, Luke 1:35
• The Ark contained the tablet of the commandments, the manna from heaven, and Aaron's Rod.  Mary contained the living Law, the bread from heaven, the Branch of David (the High Priest), Jesus Christ   Deuteronomy 10:3-5, Hebrews 9:4, Luke 1:35
• The Ark traveled into the hill country of Judah, Mary travelled to the hill country of Judah 2 Samuel 6:1-11, Luke 1:39
• Dressed as a priest King David approached the Ark of the Covenant and danced for joy, John the Baptist, son of a priest, danced in the womb before the presence of Mary 2 Samuel 6:14, Luke 1:43
• David shouted for joy, Elizabeth exclaimed in joy 2 Samuel 6:15, Luke 1:42
• David asked, How is it that the Ark comes to me?  Elizabeth How is it that the Mother of the Lord comes to me?  2 Samuel 6:9, Luke 1:43
• The Ark remained for three months in the house, Mary remained for 3 months in the house 2 Samuel 6:11, Luke 1:56
• The Ark returns to Jerusalem to the temple, Mary goes to Jersualem to present Jesus in the temple 2 Samuel 6:12, 1 Kings 8:9-11, Luke 1:56, 2:21-22
• God made Aaron's rod come to life, Jesus the Branch was brought back to life Numbers 17:8, Hebrews 4:14
  

Those are just some of the examples.  It would take much longer to actually cover all of it, if that could even be done in a blog post.  I think though there is something to be learned from the story.  John lept in the womb before the Ark.  King David lept for joy and danced with abandon before the Ark.  How are we responding to the Ark?   How are we responding to it's contents?  As we approach Advent these are a few of the questions that can help us ask if we are responding to God.  Are we filled with joy at his presence?  Does Mass cause us to call out with our hearts at the presence of God?  Is Mary a part of our lives? Or do we dismiss her?

What else can we learn?  As Catholics we believe Mary is the first and foremost example of what it means to be a true disciple of Christ.  As Christmas approaches, we look forward to the birth of Christ into the world.  Mary was the living Ark.   She allowed the Spirit of God to overshadow her.  She was so filled with God's love that she became the vessel that Christ would spend nine months in perfect communion with.  He was a part of her.  Inside of her.  In a way that no other human has ever experienced.  Are we being Arks?  In our discipleship are we allowing God to overshadow us, to the point that others feel God's presence through us?  You know those people who are so filled with God's joy and love that when you are in their presence, you can just feel it?  The air is tangible, there is an energy.. something that makes you want it too... something that gives you joy.... Yeah, that's right.. Are you doing that?   Are you allowing God to so consume you, to overshadow you... that you become a joy?  Is your happiness on the surface, your joy overflowing? 

I don't know about you guys, but I've got work to do.  I do know this.  It starts with a Sacramental life.  How can you be an Ark if you don't allow the contents of the Ark to come inside you?  Jesus is there.  He is present in the Eucharist.   You and I need to receive him. That way we can truly go out into the world at the dismissal of the Mass to be Arks... to bring the presence of Christ to a world that very much needs him.  Mass.  The original Ark maker ;)

His servant and yours,

Brian

Happy New Year!

Be vigilant!   That is our message from today's Gospel.  As we enter the season of Advent, we see more of that Apocalyptic literature that reminds us to be ever ready and watchful for the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  It exhorts us to continue working towards that perfection, that holiness of life that comes with following Christ as our example.  It also evokes in our hearts the realization that we all have one thing in common.  We all eventually will die.  We all eventually will face judgement.  These readings are intense, but they are written not to scare us but to encourage.  A prompting to "conduct ourselves in a way pleasing to God."

The last few days I've been binge watching a television show that I find to be very interesting.  I wouldn't recommend it for children or anyone sensitive to harsh language, but the Man in the High Castle definitely shows us a danger of the human condition.  In this alternate reality the Nazi's created the bomb before America did.  This enabled them to not only win the war, but to take over half the country.  The other half seems to have been dominated by the Japanese which I imagine began with Pearl Harbor.  Throughout the series we see what life would truly be like if we didn't have freedom.  If you have ever complained about freedom here in the United States?  Give this show a watch.

Why do I mention this show?  When I watch it I see something about the characters that is very much vigilant.  They have their eyes open.  They are seeking the good of 'society'.  One of the characters is a Nazi commander and he very much seeks the best for the Nazi government.  He is dedicated.  He believes in what he is doing.  He keeps to his 'rule' of conduct at all costs.  In that though, he ignores one thing, his heart.  At one point he turns over his friend, because as he puts it, "There is no room for emotions" in the world.  He has left love behind. 

That is a danger that many people forget.  In their conduct they are trying to be pleasing to God, but God is pleased truly with love.  Our liturgies are important, our devotions too, our prayer and worship should be first and foremost in our lives.  All of it must be tempered with love.  Humanity is bad to stick to one ideology, one way of doing things, to the point of harming others in order to stick to that one way of life.  We aren't like the Nazi's, I agree.   Most of us would blanch at killing in order to purify the human race.  Yet, how many of us stick to our democratic or republican voting points regardless of if love is involved?  How many of us would vote the party line even if it means supporting one of the five non-negotiables?  How many of us decide that one liturgy is better than another? Or one version of music is the 'right' one, even to the point of running someone down to get our way?

Jesus said if we were angry with our brother it was the same as murdering him.  If we are so set in our ways of doing things, and have not love, St. Paul says we are just a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  That is, we are just a loud noise with no effectiveness, pushing people away and harming them instead of soothing them and drawing them closer to Christ.  When we decide at work that our way is the only way to do things, even to the point of not being charitable to that person who wants to try something new, hurting their feelings and gossiping behind their back; aren't we killing them with our words and thoughts?  Jesus condemned empty and hollow tradition.  He said that the Pharisees were like white washed tombs.  On the outside they did all the right things.  On the inside there remained the filth of decay and the bones of dead men.  Are you the same inside as your are outside? or are you wearing a mask? We must change.  We must start with love.  Then and only then, when we do our traditions out of love.. they are a true and pleasing sacrifice to the Lord. 

As we approach Christmas through advent let us do so with love.  Let us invite others into our celebration.  Let us spread the word, declaring "Blessed Advent" or "Happy Advent" to those who wish us a "Happy Holidays."   Then when they ask what Advent is, let us explain our traditions, how that we are journeying towards Christmas to remind us of that grateful expectation that Israel felt as they waited for the long prophesied Savior and Messiah.  Let us build that palatable excitement in our lives until we can sing with the angels, the Saints, and the blessed Virgin Mary:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,    and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

His servant and yours,
Brian