An Immaculate Conception

A few days ago, we celebrated the Immaculate Conception. We recalled Mary being born without sin, making her a perfect vessel for God Himself in Jesus.

This should not have come as a surprise, though - Mary as the "perfect vessel" was prefigured in the Old Testament in a seemingly unlikely place: the Ark of the Covenant.

The Book of Exodus tells us that the Ark was meant to carry three things: The Staff of Aaron, the Ten Commandments and manna from the desert. In other words, the symbol of the priesthood, the law, and the bread from heaven.

We also know that just about everything in the Old Testament is a prefigurement (or "type") of something in the New. Adam prefigured Jesus. Abraham and Isaac prefigured the Crucifixion. Melchizedek prefigured the priesthood. Similarly, the Ark of the Covenant prefigured Mary.

"But Nick," you may be asking, "Mary wasn't a box! And I happen to know she was, in fact, not made of gold and cedar"

"Oh you," I would reply, "Mary wasn't a literal Ark of the Covenant! She was the Ark of the NEW Covenant!"

Where the old Ark contained the symbols of the priesthood, the law and the bread, the new Ark (Mary) carried Jesus, the perfect fulfillment of the Priesthood, the Law and Word of God, and the Bread of Life.

 Where Adam failed, Christ succeeded. Where Moses was given a law based on God compromising to human weakness, Jesus brought the Law of Love.

Mary was the new Ark of the Covenant, and as such she had to be kept perfect. As we prepare for Christmas, it's worth remembering our perfect Mother.