The Ark and The Temple

I . Reminders

- something that causes us to remember something. A. A Sporting Event: usually begins with the singing of our national anthem. B. School: usually begins with the pledge of allegiance.

C. Rituals or Ceremonies: remind us of and honor our unity and freedom as Americans.

D. Church Rituals: helps us honor and prepare for God’s presence.

II. The Blessing of Water

A. Old Testament

1. In the Old Testament, water is a sign of God’s power.

a. The first creation story from Genesis, says that God’s Spirit moved over the oceans.

b. The Great Flood, book of Genesis, sent to destroy evil on Earth.

c. Exodus: God parted the red Sea.

d. God giving the Israelites water in the desert, Book of Exodus.

e. God also calmed the Jordan river so the Israelites could cross over to the promise land.

B. How water is used Today

1. Sacraments: Baptism, through water we are blessed with the Holy Spirit, we are cleansed of original sin, and given new life in Christ.

2. Easter Vigil: a priest blesses water that is to be used to baptize people.

- Catholics worship is replete with symbols and ritual actions.

* some of our sacraments and sacramentals developed out of Jewish customs that the first Christians adapted.

C. Signs of God

1. The Israelites in the Old Testament saw God work wonders through water.

- they saw water’s power to bring purity and goodness.

- in order to be in God’s presence, they washed their hands and feet.

2. The Israelites felt God’s presence near the ark of the covenant. - the ark of the covenant: holiest symbol for the Israelites. - God's presences surrounded the ark and led the Israelites on their journey through the desert to the Promise Land.

* eventually the ark was housed in the Temple of Solomon.

-To honor God, they continually burned oil lamps outside the ark.

* When the Israelites settled in Canaan, they needed a permanent holy place to keep the ark and worship God together.

3. Israel’s first two kings Saul and David wanted to build a magnificent Temple to gather for worship.

* Temple: the first temple built on Mt. Zion, a hill in Jerusalem, during King Solomon’s rule.

- the ark was kept in the temple, in a sacred space, called the Holy of Holies.

D. A Place of God’s Presence

1. Solomon an Israelite king, who built the first temple.

2. Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s covenant with the Israelites.

3. Jewish Rituals

- early Christians adapted some of the rituals used by the Israelites to celebrate the presence of God.

-ex. Baptism

4. Jesus

-rituals received new meaning.

-through Jesus, God could truly be present within us.

5. Baptism and other sacraments

- fill us with God’s very life and presence, or grace.

- they help us participate in God’s kingdom on earth

- prepares us for

everlasting life

with God.

6. Sacramentals- something that

reminds us of Jesus Christ and prepares us for God’s life in us.

-blessed candles reminds us that God is the eternal light of the world.

7. Church

-a special place of worship.

-we attend church to be filled with Christ