Posted on 12/11/2014 2:16:41 PM PST by NYer
In Part 1 (see below) of my defense of the Immaculate Conception, I presented Mary as the “woman” from Genesis 3:15 and Revelation 12 who is at enmity with the devil. I would like to turn now to the scriptural evidence that points to Mary as the “Ark of the New Covenant.”
The Ark of the Covenant
Another indication of Mary’s sinlessness can be found in the parallel between Mary and the Ark of the Covenant from the Old Testament:
If that weren’t enough to establish Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant, there is a very interesting word from Luke 1:42 that further confirms this. Notice that when Elizabeth saw Mary for the first time, Elizabeth “exclaimed” with a loud cry. This seems hardly worth noting until you look at the Greek word that Luke decided to use here. ἀναφωνέω (transliterated: anaphōneō), is used only once in the entire New Testament and it’s right here in Luke 1:42. Its presence in the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) is likewise sparse, appearing only five times. Why is this important? Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch explain:
[E]very time the expression is used in the Old Testament, it forms part of the stories surrounding the Ark of the Covenant. In particular, it refers to the melodic sounds made by Levitical singers and musicians when they glorify the Lord in song. It thus describes the “exulting” voice of instruments that were played before the Ark as David carried it in procession to Jerusalem (1 Chron 15:28; 16:4-5) and as Solomon transferred the Ark to its final resting place in the Temple (2 Chron 5:13). Alluding to these episodes, Luke connects this same expression with the melodic cry of another Levitical descendant, the aged Elizabeth (Lk 1:5). She too lifts up her voice in liturgical praise, not before the golden chest, but before Mary. (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, “The Gospel of Luke,” pg. 21).
But what does “Mary as Ark” have to do with her sinlessness, her immaculate conception? Don’t forget: the tablets, the manna, and the priestly rod that were contained in the Ark were the holiest of all Jewish relics and represented the very presence of God to the Jewish people. As such, the container or “ark” that held them had to be made of the purest and most perfect materials. The ark itself was considered so holy that no one was allowed to even touch it, lest they die (cf. 2 Samuel 6:7; 1 Chronicles 13:9-10).
Just as the contents of the old covenant ark demanded a perfectly pure container, so does Christ, not as a matter of strict necessity (God could have took on human flesh from any woman) but because His holiness demands and deserves it. By preserving Mary from sin, God has prepared her to be the pure Ark of the New Covenant.
In Part 3, I will examine the salutation of Gabriel and what it means that Mary is “full of grace.”
Pax Christi,
Not touching that one.......
“Not touching that one.......”
Touch it you die!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.