Posts Tagged ‘Ark of Covenant and Tabernacle’

Integrating the Old and the New

Thursday, July 30th, 2015

Thursday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time

Ex 40: 16-21, 34-38; Mt 13:47-53

Deacon Larry Brockman

What a challenge Jesus gives his disciples today! You see, Jesus asks them if they understand “all these things”.

The parable of the fish, it seems to me, is pretty simple. God will separate the good from the bad at the Last Judgement, just like a fisherman separates fish caught in a net. The Disciples all got it too, they understood Jesus’ parable. And so, the Disciples boldly say “yes”, they understood.  But then came the challenge, the part about bringing forward the “old” and the “new”.

Bible scholars have suggested that Jesus was telling the disciples that if they understood the parables in his preaching, and so, understood his teaching, then they must become like wise householders who learn to store up and use both old and new riches. So, Jesus is challenging the Disciples to learn how to use the “Old” with the “New”- how to integrate Jesus teaching with the classical teachings of the Jewish Faith. Specifically, Jesus was referring to all of the stories and history in the Old Testament. Jesus was challenging the Disciples to open the Jewish Scriptures and interpret them in the light of Jesus’ teaching. Indeed, since Jesus is the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecy of a Messiah, then God’s word was not written down without purpose for us. There are multiple layers in the Old Testament; and these old riches need to be shared even today by those who understand.

With all that in mind, just what is it that we should take away with us from that first reading today? How can we interpret the story about Moses, the Ark of the Covenant, and the moveable dwelling that Moses constructed in the light of the New Testament and the Gospel?

Well, I couldn’t help but notice the parallel between the Ark of the Covenant and our Tabernacle. Truly, God is present in the Tabernacle that all of us see every time we enter this Church, and indeed, every Catholic Church, just like God came down in the cloud and rested on the Ark of the Covenant, and so was present to the Israelis.

Now it is very clear that the people, and even Moses, were fearful of this manifestation of the Lord. Ironic, isn’t it, when you think about it. In the Old Testament, the Lord manifests himself in clear, unmistakable ways to the people of God during the Exodus. Whether it was in the fire and lightning and smoke at Mount Sanai or in the cloud surrounding the Dwelling housing the Ark of the Covenant, there was something truly extraordinary about these manifestations. And the Israelites were struck with fear and terror at these sights, all of which mandated that they respect and honor God.

But rather than manifest himself in fire and smoke or in a cloud, Our Lord manifests himself in the Eucharist, his own Body and Blood, as a tiny wafer of bread consecrated by the Priest. We keep it in reserve in our Tabernacles. But our response should be the same as the Israelis: a healthy level of fear of God and respect.

Have you thought about that much recently- a show of respect for Jesus in the Tabernacle? Because you see, that is one of the things that is just so significant about being Catholic. When one walks into a Protestant Church, it is just a building, like any other building with four walls. But when one walks into a Catholic Church, God is there, almighty God! So, this Church is Holy Ground- and should be respected, just as the Israelites respected the Ark and its dwelling.

And then the Exodus story continues with all of the words about following the Lord. When the cloud lifted and left; that was the time for the Israelis to leave. Likewise, when we consume the Lord in the Eucharist, we leave and go out into the world after Mass. We are called to follow after Jesus example in the Gospel, just as the Israelites followed the Lord and his Ark of the Covenant.

Do you understand all these things? Because then you, too, have to integrate the Old with the New. You are challenged to respect the God of our ancestors in his ever-present form in our Tabernacle. And you are challenged to live the Gospel when you leave here with the Lord dwelling within you. And that is a real challenge.