The Ark of the Covenant: Prefiguring Mary as the New Ark and Jesus the Word made Flesh (Ex. 25:8-22)

The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 Speak to the Israelites: Let them receive contributions for me. From each you shall receive the contribution that their hearts prompt them to give me. 3 These are the contributions you shall accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze; 4 violet, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; 5 rams’ skins dyed red, and tahash skins; acacia wood; 6oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 7 onyx stones and other gems for mounting on the ephod and the breastpiece. 8 They are to make a sanctuary for me, that I may dwell in their midst. 9 According to all that I show you regarding the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of its furnishings, so you are to make it.

God commands Moses to collect offerings from the Israelites to construct the Tabernacle (or Dwelling Place) and its sacred furnishings, including the Ark of the Covenant.  The materials—gold, silver, bronze, fine linen, acacia wood, and precious stones—signify the sacredness and divine purpose of this structure.  The Ark, which will house the tablets of the Law, represents God's presence among His people. The key verse, Exodus 25:8, states: "They shall make a sanctuary for me, that I may dwell in their midst."  This foreshadows how God will later dwell among His people in a fuller way—through Mary, the New Ark, and ultimately, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel ("God with us").

The Ark was the most sacred object in Israel’s religious life. It contained: The stone tablets of the Law (Ex. 25:16), A jar of manna (Ex. 16:33; Heb. 9:4), and Aaron’s rod that budded (Num. 17:10).  The Ark was placed in the Holy of Holies, where God’s presence was made manifest.  The Mercy Seat, the place where God’s glory appeared and atonement was made (Lev. 16:2), prefigures Christ, whose sacrifice brings the ultimate atonement for sins (Rom. 3:25).  Just as the high priest sprinkled blood on the Mercy Seat on the Day of Atonement, Christ, our Eternal High Priest, offers His own blood for our redemption (Heb. 9:11-12).

The Ark of the Covenant was the sacred vessel of God's presence, prefiguring Mary, the New Ark, who carried within her womb not merely symbols of God’s presence, but God Himself in the flesh—Jesus, the Word made flesh.  The prophet Isaiah prophesied, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us” (Mt. 1:23).  Just as the Ark carried sacred objects, Mary carried within her the living Word of God, the Bread of Life, and the Eternal High Priest.  Mary, as the Ark, signifies God's dwelling among His people in the most personal way, through the Incarnation.

While Mary is the Ark, Jesus is God’s actual presence dwelling among us, the fulfillment of the Ark’s significance, "And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (Jn. 1:14).  The Ark of the Covenant was the earthly dwelling of God's presence, but in Christ, God fully and permanently dwells among us in the Incarnation.  The Old Testament Ark contained symbols of God's presence, but Jesus Himself is the divine presence.  

The Ark of the Covenant, Mary, and Jesus all serve a role in God's progressive revelation and plan of salvation.  Through Christ’s death and resurrection, the presence of God is no longer confined to the Ark or the Temple but is extended to all believers.  St. Paul writes, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16).  The Ark of the Covenant finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who is the full revelation of God's presence among His people.  Through Him, believers are transformed into living temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16), called to bear His presence to the world, just as Mary bore Christ in her womb.

Heavenly Father, You commanded Your people to build a dwelling place for Your presence, foreshadowing the perfect Ark of the New Covenant, Mary, who bore Your Son, Jesus Christ, in her womb.  As You made Your dwelling among us in the Incarnation, make our hearts a fitting sanctuary for Your love.  May we always seek to carry Christ within us and reveal His presence to the world.  We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Emmanuel, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen!

                                                       

Sources

• McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
• Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
• Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
• Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
• Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
• Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
• Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.