The Abiding Presence Of God In The Tabernacle

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Thursday of 17th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, July 29th, 2021
Texts: Ex. 40:16-21.34-38; Ps. 84:2-5a.7a.10; John 11:19-27
Today the tabernacle is set up. It contains the ark of the covenant. The tabernacle was to assure them of God's presence with them. The tent of meeting only manifested the presence of God when Moses was there. Unlike the tent of meeting, the tabernacle perpetually manifested the presence of God. It is said, _"For throughout all their journeys the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel."_  God dwelt with the people in the tabernacle, cloud by the day and fire by the night to lead the people.
The provision of tabernacle tells us how much God wills to live with us. It shows the willingness of God to live with those who have bound themselves to Him in covenant. It is the fulfilment of God's promise to bind Himself to them and to make them His people. It also calls us to fulfill our own part of the covenant; we are to keep His words and do His will.
Today's gospel reading reminds us of the fulfilment of the tabernacle in Jesus Christ. In words of Martha: _"Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.”_  Jesus Christ is the real tabernacle of God, in Him the fulness of God dwells and God lives among men. In the letter to the Hebrews, it is said, "He is the reflection of God's glory and bears the impress of God's own being" (1:3). As Christians we have established covenant with God in Christ in an excellent way more than that of Old Testament. The assurance of God's presence with us in Christ  is beyond all telling. The provision of the tabernacle prefigured the incarnation of the Son of God; it looks forward to the presence of God with us in Christ. Jesus Christ also came to make us the tabernacle of God. Whoever is in Christ is a moving tabernacle; we are filled with the glory of God and enjoy His presence in Christ.
We are also reminded, today, that God continues to live in the tabernacle of the Blessed Sacrament. The tabernacle of the Old Testament is fulfilled in the tabernacle of the Blessed Sacrament. It is the assurance of  God's presence with us in our earthly pilgrimage. The tabernacle of the Blessed Sacrament reminds us that the Lord our God is God on earth as He is in heaven; as His will is done in heaven, so also His will is to be done on earth. Let us always seek His will and do it. Let us cultivate the habit of visiting God in the tabernacle of the Blessed Sacrament.
The presence of God with us in Christ restores our life. Eternal life is restored to us. In today's gospel reading, Jesus Christ tells us thus: _“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die."_ Those who died in hope of His coming is also giving eternal life. For those of us who are reaping the benefit of His coming, we already have eternal life. For us in Christ, death is no longer a reduction to a lower level of life in limbo but a fruition of eternal life. In Christ death is redeemed and acquires a new meaning. In Jesus Christ, our lost glory is restored. Eternal life is the glory of God in man; it is the life of God in him.

Lord our God, help us to appreciate Your abiding presence with us in the tabernacle of the Blessed Sacrament, that we may live life worthy of Your glory. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke