Understanding the Corpus Christi Procession: Connections to the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament
The Lord is doing something powerful right now.
With the Eucharistic Revival and the feast of Corpus Christi approaching, it is important to reflect on how Eucharistic processions relate to the Old Testament. God's presence has always been with us throughout history, continually drawing near to us despite our failures. The Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament is a profound symbol and prefigurement of the Eucharist. The procession of the Ark foreshadows the Eucharistic procession, representing the living presence of God among His people.
In Exodus 25:10-22, God gives specific instructions to Moses on how the Ark is to be built and carried – using acacia wood, overlaid with gold, and fitted with poles on the sides to avoid direct contact. The Ark of the Covenant was a sacred chest that contained the stone tablets of the Commandments, Aaron's rod that budded, and a portion of the manna that sustained the Israelites in the desert. These items prefigure Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the Law, the ultimate High Priest, and the Bread of Life that sustains us. The Ark serves as a symbolic precursor to the Tabernacle, where we now reserve the Holy Eucharist.
In 2 Samuel 6:1-17, King David brings the Ark to Jerusalem, making it the spiritual and political capital of Israel. As the Ark is brought into the city, “David and all the house of Israel were making merry before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals” (2 Samuel 6:5). This procession signifies a return to proper worship, with the Ark's presence in Jerusalem symbolizing God's dwelling among His people, providing guidance and blessing.
King Solomon later completed the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem and oversaw the transfer of the Ark to its final resting place in the Holy of Holies. This event was marked by great reverence, music, and singing,
“Praise the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever” (2 Chronicles 5:13).
Each time the Ark was transported, it was done with reverence, worship, and joy (2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13; 1 Chronicles 15; 2 Chronicles 5). Similarly, Eucharistic processions today remind us of God's enduring love and His real presence among us in the Eucharist. Let us continue to glorify and adore Him with the same reverence, worship, and joy, for He is truly deserving of such honor.
