Daily Retreat 02/06/06

2006 Feb 6 Mon: Paul Miki, p, mt, & co., mts M

1 Kgs 8: 1-7. 9-13/ Ps 132: 6-7. 8-10/ Mk 6: 53-56

From today’s readings: "The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place beneath the wings of the cherubim in the sanctuary, the Holy of Holies of the temple.... May Your priests be clothed with justice; let Your faithful ones shout merrily for joy.... Whatever villages or towns or countryside He entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him that they might touch only the tassel on His cloak; and as many as touched it were healed."

The Holy of Holies

Note that the lectionary skips a number of chapters, including the proverbially judgment of Solomon (1Kings 3:16-28), and his construction of the Temple and palaces in Jerusalem (ch. 5-7). Today’s first reading picks up with the dedication of that great Temple, celebrated with the transfer of the Ark of the Covenant. Compare the solemnity of this moment with the transfer of the Ark in David’s Day (2 Samuel 6:12-18; cf. reflection of Jan. 27, Tuesday of the third week in ordinary time)!

Because the Temple’s sanctuary housed the Ark of the Covenant, it was considered the "Holy of Holies," the physical guarantee of the presence of the Lord’s glory. This explains and justifies the extravagant beauty of the Temple, because the architectural glory was designed to house and incarnate the spiritual glory. Just as our stately capitol buildings, imposing courthouses, and elegant city halls are meant to arouse in us awe for the law and state, so our churches rightfully enshrine such beauty that inspires us with visions of the Lord’s own glory!