Ark of the Covenant

The Fourth Sunday of Advent brings us the Gospel of the Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, the "prelude" to yesterday's Gospel which featured the Magnificat, Mary's response to Elizabeth's greeting, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." (Lk 1:42 ) Hearkening back to the Fathers of the Church, Bishop Robert Barron reminds us that Mary is the living Ark of the Covenant, which contained the tables of the ten commandments, manna and Aaron's Rod, concrete reminders of God's Presence.  Mary now bears the Presence of God within her, his own Son, and is the true Ark.  As David danced before the Ark, so John leaps for joy in his mother's womb.  Mary is the God Bearer.  We too, through our Baptism, are God-Bearers, Arks,  who, like Mary carry him to others.  May we be conscious of our privileged role and act on it as we, in these final days of Advent prepare for the entry of God's Presence, his Son,  into the World. 
Bro. Rene