A MOMENT WITH MARY Mary is not only seen as the New Eve, but also as the New Ark or Ark of the New Covenant. This is at least partly based on obvious parallels between the Visitation scenes in Luke 1 and 2 Samuel 6. As Dr. Andrew Swafford explains, “Such a parallel would be enormously significant since the Ark was the holiest object in all of Israel. It is holy because it bore the very presence of God. The Ark . . . held the Ten Commandments, a jar that held the manna, and Aaron’s high priestly rod (Hebrews 9:4). Likewise, Mary bears Jesus who is the Word of God Incarnate, the bread of life, and eternal high priest.” What are these parallels? First, there is very similar language in 2 Sam. 6:9 and Luke 1:43, respectively: “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” and “How does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” If this were a one-off, then perhaps it could be chalked up to a coincidence. But the parallels persist. Compare “As the ark of the Lord was entering . . . King David leaping and dancing before the Lord” (2 Sam. 6:16) and “For at that moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy” (Luke 1:44). Yet another parallel is found between 2 Sam. 6:11 and Luke 1:56: “The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months” and “Mary remained with her about three months.” |
