The ark of the covenant was one of the visible signs of the presence
of God in Israel. It was a coffer, which measures 5 feet x 3 feet, and
enclosed the two tablets of the law. It was covered with gold and
mounted with cherubim. It accompanied Israel from Sinai and was
sheltered under a mobile tent until the construction of the temple
where it rested in a more secured shelter. This ark manifested God’s
presence in the midst of His people to guide, protect, to make known
His Word and hear their prayer.
What happened when the ark disappeared? Did God disappear? God was
preparing little by little His people for the perfect fulfillment of
His presence that is His Son Jesus Christ, the Word of God living
among men, Emmanuel. But then again Christ was taken from our sight in
his Ascension. Are we left as orphans again?
Though He is corporeally absent we are encouraged to look for Him by
faith in the place where He resides. He is present in the suffering,
in the Scripture, in those who are united in prayer in His name, in
the Eucharist. Those who received Him through faith become the living
temple of the Holy Spirit. To be the living temple means for us to be
united with the Father through Love, the kind of Love shown to us in
Christ. Men will experience God present in their midst when this Love
continues to be visible at all times.
