Skip to main content

She Carried God: Reasons We Honor Mother Mary

We honor her because God chose her to be the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 1:43).
We honor her because she shared her humanity with the Son of God (Galatians 4:4).
We honor her because Christ received His flesh and blood from her (Hebrews 10:5).
We honor her because she carried the Divine Child in her womb, nourishing Him with her own blood for nine months.
We honor her because she nursed Him after birth and cared for Him (Luke 2:7).
We honor her because Christ Himself honored and obeyed her (Luke 2:51).

We honor her because she is the New Ark of the Covenant
Throughout the Old Testament, we see the Ark of the Covenant honoured. If the old Ark was holy because it carried God’s presence, how much more is Mary, who carried God Himself?

Why do we believe she is the New Ark? The Old Ark foreshadowed her. Let’s see:

The Symbolic Contents

The Ark of the Covenant held three specific items that symbolised God’s provision and covenant. Mary’s womb held Jesus, who fulfilled all three symbols.
  • The Bread: The Ark held the Manna from the wilderness (Hebrews 9:4). Mary carried Jesus, who declared Himself "the Bread of Life come down from heaven" (John 6:51).
  • The Law: The Ark held the Stone Tablets of the Ten Commandments. Mary carried Jesus, who is the living "Word made flesh" (John 1:14).
  • The Authority: The Ark held the Rod of Aaron that miraculously budded to prove his true priesthood. Mary carried Jesus, the ultimate and eternal "High Priest" (Hebrews 4:14).

Language Parallels in the Gospels

The Gospel of Luke deliberately uses Old Testament language from the accounts of the Ark to describe Mary, signalling to first-century readers that she was the new Ark.
Old Testament (The Ark) New Testament (Mary)
The Holy Spirit's Presence
The glory cloud of God overshadowed (episkiazo) the Tabernacle where the Ark rested (Exodus 40:34-35). 		The Holy Spirit's Presence
The angel tells Mary, "The power of the Most High will overshadow (episkiazo) you" (Luke 1:35).
David's Holy Fear
David leaps with joy but asks in awe, "How can the ark of the Lord come to me?" (2 Samuel 6:9). 		Elizabeth's Holy Fear
Elizabeth is filled with the Spirit and asks, "Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1:43).
Leaping for Joy
David leapt and danced before the Ark as it entered Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14-16). 		Leaping for Joy
The baby John the Baptist leaped for joy in Elizabeth’s womb at the sound of Mary's greeting (Luke 1:41).
The Three-Month Stay
The Ark remained in the hill country of Judea at the house of Obed-Edom for three months (2 Samuel 6:11). 		The Three-Month Stay
Mary stayed in the hill country of Judea at the house of Elizabeth and Zechariah for three months (Luke 1:56).

The Vision in Revelation

The most explicit visual link occurs in the book of Revelation, written by the Apostle John.
  • Revelation 11:19: "Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant."
  • Revelation 12:1 (The very next verse): "A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth."
John looks at the Ark in heaven, then immediately sees the pregnant Woman who gives birth to the Messiah. The Old Ark leads to the New Ark.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Communion of Saints: Asking for Prayers from Those in Heaven

Introduction to Asking for Prayers from Saints The concept of asking for prayers from saints in heaven can be understood by examining the biblical basis for mutual support in prayer within the Christian community. As members of the body of Christ ( 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 ), we are encouraged to ask fellow Christians for prayers ( 1 Thessalonians 5:25 , Romans 15:30 , Ephesians 6:19 , Hebrews 13:18 ) and to pray for one another ( 1 Timothy 2:1-2 , James 5:16 , Ephesians 6:18 ). This mutual support in prayer is a vital aspect of the Christian community, fostering unity and spiritual growth. However, a question arises: Is it a sin for a Christian on earth to ask for prayers from a Christian in heaven? Doesn't the Bible condemn necromancy ( Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Leviticus 19:31, 20:6 )? Yes, necromancy is indeed forbidden in Scripture. To understand the difference between asking for prayers from saints and necromancy, let's explore the distinction between these two practices. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Communion of Saints: Praying for Those in Purgatory

The Catholic concept of Purgatory is rooted in Scripture and Church teachings. Jesus sets the standard for perfection, saying we should be perfect as God is perfect ( Matthew 5:48 ). St. Paul emphasizes that without holiness, we can not see God ( Hebrews 12:14 ). Given this high standard, it's reasonable to conclude that most people would need purification to achieve the holiness required to be in God's presence. This call to holiness echoes throughout Scripture, from God's command to Israel to be holy ( Leviticus 19:2 ) to St. Peter's reminder of the same ( 1 Peter 1:16 ). Understanding Purgatory Catholics believe in Purgatory, a final purification of souls before entering heaven ( CCC 1030-1032 ). This concept is rooted in Scripture, such as 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 , which mentions a purifying fire. Scriptural Basis The Parable of the Faithful Servant Jesus' parable of the faithful servant ( Luke 12:42-48 ) can be seen as hinting at Purgatory. The parable describes ...
Post a Comment
Read more

From Old to New: Understanding the Continuity of Faith and Authority in the Church

'And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.' - Matthew 16:18-19 , NRSVCE In our previous exploration of  The Continuity of Faith: Exploring the Links between the Old Covenant and Catholicism , we uncovered the profound and significant connections between Judaism and Catholicism. Now, let's delve deeper into the New Covenant worship and its Jewish roots, especially in the context of the Church's foundation. The Apostles as Fishers of People Interestingly, the first four apostles Jesus called were fishermen: Simon, Andrew, James, and John. Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people" ( Matthew 4:19 , NRSVCE), fulfilling the prophecy in  Jeremiah 1...
Post a Comment
Read more