Immaculate Conception 2021
6 chapters
of the book of Exodus are dedicated to the details of the construction of the
tent of worship, including the minutest details about how to build and
construct the Tabernacle, the inner sanctuary where the high priest would enter
once a year. Instructions for the
Tabernacle included the use of gold and precious metals, exact measurements,
and only the best of the material was to be used. Here is just one excerpt from the 26th
chapter of Exodus:
“The tabernacle
itself you shall make out of ten sheets woven of fine linen twined and of
violet, purple, and scarlet yarn, with cherubim embroidered on them. The length of each shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the
width four cubits; Then make fifty
clasps of gold and join the two sets of sheets, so that the tabernacle forms
one whole.”
Another chapter
says in part “These are the contributions you shall accept from them: gold,
silver, and bronze; violet, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine
linen, acacia wood; oil for the
light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; onyx stones and other gems for mounting on the ephod and the
breast plate for the high priest. They are to make a sanctuary for me, that I
may dwell in their midst.”
Any engineer
or construction people – you need to read these chapters and see that your mind
and God’s mind function in a similar way!
Literally every detail is specified and it is almost 20% of the book of
Exodus!
When the
Israelites finally make it to the Promised Land, there are particular
instructions very similar to the tent that are handed on from David to his son
Solomon of the same detail, precious metals, exact measurements, gold, the
Tabernacle has a very specific veil…
So when we
see how much care God asks for the Tent and Temple Tabernacles, we should not
be surprised that God would prepare a pure vessel for his Son!
Today we
celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Mary’s being
conceived without the stain of original sin.
In today’s
Gospel where the Archangel Gabriel visits Mary, when He promises that she will
conceive through the Holy Spirit, the same word “Overshadow” is the word that
is also used for the tent Tabernacle and later the Temple Tabernacle. What we celebrate today, then, is God giving
the same care and attention to the crafting of Mary who would be a Tabernacle
of her pre-born Son. Nothing but the
best of Human material – and so that is why she was conceived without the stain
of original sin.
In
conclusion, all of us are imperfect, but through our reception of the
Eucharist, we become walking living breathing Tabernacles for the Lord as well.
May we see
the care and devotion God required in crafting His Tabernacle in the desert,
His Tabernacle in the Temple and His Perfect Tabernacle the Blessed Virgin Mary,
and thus seek to make ourselves the best Tabernacle we can be, cooperating
fully with the Grace of God.
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