Heading for the hills from Hail Holy Queen by Scott Hahn Where else is Mary called the Ark of the Covenant? Along with John’s writing, the writings of Luke are the Bible’s other great gold mine of Marian doctrine… Scholars have marveled at the way Luke’s gospel subtly parallels key texts of the Old Testament. One of the early examples in his narratives is the story of Mary’ visitation to Elizabeth. Luke’s language seems to echo the account, in the second book of Samuel, of David’s travels as he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. The story begins as David “arose and went” (2 Sam 6:2). Luke’s account of the visitation begins with the same words: Mary “arose and went” (1:39). In their journeys, then, both Mary and David proceeded to the hill country of Judah. David acknowledges his unworthiness with the words “How can the ark of the Lord come to me” (2 Sam 6:9) – word we find echoed as Mary approaches her kinswoman Elizabeth: “Why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1:43). Not here that the sentence is almost verbatim, except that “ark” is replaced by “mother”. We read further that David “danced” for joy in the presence of the ark (2 Sam 6:14,16), and we find a similar expression used to describe the leaping of the child within Elizabeth’s womb as Mary approached (Lk 1:44). Finally, the ark remained in the hill country for three months (2 Sam 6:11), the same amount of time Mary spent with Elizabeth (Lk1:56)… Was Luke, in his quiet way, showing Mary to be the ark of the new Covenant? The evidence is too strong to explain credibly in any other way (Page 63, 64, and 65)

1. Mary entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth She enters to the home and brings Jesus to that place. She is the New Ark of the Covenant.

2. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months. She goes out of herself to love and give. She express her love in service.

3. Tell Positive things: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb… Blessed for you have believed! Elizabeth highlights what is good in Mary.