Reflection for Tuesday of the Third Week in
Ordinary Time Year A
(2Sam 6:12-15, 17-19; Mk 3:31-35)
The Ark of God was being carried in procession
from the House of Obed-Edom to Jerusalem, the City of David. The Ark represented
God’s presence in their midst; a concrete mark and reminder of God’s covenant
with Israel. David sacrificed ox and fatling along the way. And “David danced
before the Lord with all his might; and David was belted with a linen ephod.”
The king put his royal pride aside and humbled himself before the Lord. The joy
of being in God’s presence was so overwhelming that it flowed out freely within
each dancing step of David. So the King expressed ‘total abandonment’ and
appreciation to God who blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and established him as
king in Jerusalem. “The humble shall eat and be satisfied. Those who seek God
will praise Him; may your heart live forever” (Ps 22:26).
As they arrived at the tent, the joyous king
offered burnt offerings, and he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.
Then he distributed to the multitude that gathered bread, meat and cake of
raisins. This was one of such moments David acted like a priest, and brought
blessings to the people.
As we engage in contemplative beauty of David
who brought the Ark to the Tent in Jerusalem, the Gospel of this Tuesday directs
our gaze to Mary who went in search of Jesus to bring Him home to His family.
Mary is rightfully called “The Ark of the Covenant” since Jesus who dwelt in
her fulfilled the ‘contents’ of the Ark of old. “In this were kept the gold jar
containing the manna, Aaron’s branch that grew the buds, and the tablets of the
covenant” (Heb 9:4). The sacrifices of David and the bread he shared are fulfilled
in the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Cross that has become the ‘Manna’ for the
people of the new covenant. The beautiful and spirit filled dance of David
before the Ark became a leap of joy in the womb of Elizabeth as Mary visited
(Lk 1:44). And her flow of joy could not be restrained as she sang the
magnificat...
The
universal Motherhood of Mary, the Ark of the Covenant, and the joy it brings is
readily available to all gathered in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. How is this possible? And Jesus answered
the man who brought the news to Him, “Here are my mother and my brethren!
Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Therefore,
let us put aside our human inclinations and do that which pleases God in our
every activity this day. Then we have been qualified like the Blessed Virgin
Mary to bring Jesus ‘home.’ We have become one family with Him. Our dance of
joy shall be royal, and our melodious voice shall echo His victory.
Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria.
Tuesday 28th Janauary, 2020.
Memorial of St Thomas Aquinas (The Angelic
Doctor of the Church).
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