“The Law Of Love: Linking the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Calvary”

I want to thank the men of the “Catholic Men’s Retreat” of Wyoming for inviting me to speak to them about one my favorite subjects… typology!  In this series of 6 lectures we attempted to examine the question… why did Jesus have to suffer and die just to redeem us from our sin? If Jesus is God, then why not just “will” our redemption? To go through so much for us, the mocking, the stripes of the scourging, the crown of thorns, the out-pouring of his blood, being cut off from his people and nailed to a tree… there must have been a very good reason. In seeking the answer to this question we endeavor to become the “Man in the Garden!”

Testimonial:

Thank you for one of the most inspirational weekends of my life. You are much than “entertaining.” I learned more about the bible in one weekend than my whole life. I enjoyed our conversations  through out the whole trip. God bless you and your family. Thank you for everything you have done for me and the men at our retreat. When I get the pictures I will send them to you.

Kenny,

The Talks:

The Intro Talk – “Why the Cross?“:

Download MP3 , Download Outline

The Theme Song – “Make Us Courageous” (Orig. by Casting Crowns):

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Talk 1- “The Coward Of The Garden“:

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Talk 2 – “A New Adam, A New Creation, A New Lamb” :

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Talk 3 – “A Savior Is Born, A Priest King Has Come“:

Download MP3  , Download Outline Note: The last half of the audio didn’t record through my H2, so I pulled the audio from a video source but the quality was not as good.

Talk 4 – “Its A New Garden“:

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Talk 5 – “The Law Of Love: The Total Self-Gift“:

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Resources used in preparing for these talks:

• The Catechism of the Catholic Church – HERE
• Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, of the Bible – HERE
• A Father Who Keeps His Promises: God’s Covenant Love in Scripture, Dr. Scott Hahn - HERE
• Kinship by Covenant: A Canonical Approach to the Fulfillment of God’s Saving Promises (The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library), Dr. Scott Hahn – HERE
• Understanding the Scriptures, Dr. Scott Hahn – HERE
• MORE Books from Dr. Scott Hahn – HERE
• Lectures on the Book of Exodus by Dr. Scott Hahn – HERE
• The Splendor of the Church: Audio Study from the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology- HERE
• Also check out the other great courses – FREE – HERE
• The Institute of Catholic Culture Lectures – HERE
• Jesus And The Jewish Roots Of The Eucharist, Dr. Brant Pitre – HERE
• MOUNTAINS AND MEDIATORS: A SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT [VOLUME 1], Dr. John Bergsma – HERE
• MOUNTAINS AND MEDIATORS: A SURVEY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT [VOLUME 2], Dr. John Bergsma – HERE
• More great resources from Dr John Bergsma – HERE
• The Temple and the Church’s Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God (New Studies in Biblical Theology), GK Beale – HERE
• From Shadows to Reality: Studies in the Biblical Typology of the Fathers, Cardinal Jean Danielou – HERE
• Lectures on the Gospel of John  - “The Word Became Flesh”, Dr. Hahn, Dr. Pitre, Dr. Barber & Dr Bergsma – Here
• Lectures on the Book of Revelation – “The Mystery Unveiled”, Dr. Hahn, Dr. Pitre, Dr. Barber & Dr Bergsma - Here
• Lectures on the Gospel of Matthew – “Thy Kingdom Come”, Dr. Hahn, Dr. Barber & Dr Bergsma - Here
• The Targums – HERE

This week on “Behold The Man”, being inspired by an article From Jean Cardinal Danielou, S.J. entitled: “The Sacraments And the History of Salvation”; we dive deep into the living-flowing waters of creation, cleansing and redemption to find the power and beauty of the Sacrament of Baptisim!

* The SHOW NOTES, click HERE, to download a PDF copy.

* Watch the VIDEO version of this episode HERE.

* The INTRO SONG was “Hosanna” by The Glory Estate; check out their website HERE.

Your Homework:

*Check-Out : ” Baptism by dunking only?” By Joe McClane – HERE

*Check-Out : ”The Catholic Hack! Episode No. 4 Infant Baptism” By Joe McClane  – HERE

*Check-Out : ”Behold The Man No 66 Baptism and The People Crusher!” By Joe McClane  – HERE

*Check-Out : Tracts on Baptism By Catholic Answers  – HERE

*Check-Out : ”The Sacraments And the History of Salvation” By Jean Cardinal Danielou, S.J.  Found in ”Letter & Spirit” – Volume 2, 2006 Pages 203 – 215 (type it in the search field) – HERE

Your Help:

*Listen to : “Saint Ignatius of Antioch” Download MP3 narrations of all 7 Epistles FREE – HERE

* CHECK OUT THE VERY COOL MEA CULPA IPHONE APP FOR THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION HERE

Really could use your help with reviews on iTunes! Subscribe, rate and review today!Click here to go to the show on iTunes – HERE

This week on “Behold The Man”, we look back through the mountain and mediators of Salvation history to see what they all had in common. Then we look at how it is all perfected in the NEW mountain, the ROCK of St. Peter.

* The SHOW NOTES, click HERE, to download a PDF copy.

* Watch the VIDEO version of this episode HERE.

* The INTRO SONG was “B 16 Bomber” by Fr. Stan Fortuna; check out his website HERE.

Your Homework:

*Check-Out : ”Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist” By Dr. Brant Pitre (type it in the search field) – HERE

*Check-Out : ”Mountains and Mediators” By Dr. John Bergsma  – HERE

*Check-Out : ”Inept Attempt to Dismiss the Petrine Primacy in the See of Rome” By Steve Ray – HERE

*Check-Out : ”Lenten Prayer” Catholic.org  – HERE

*Listen to : “BTM No. 36 Feed My Sheep” – HERE

*Listen to : “BTM No. 15 St. Peter” – HERE

*Listen to : “TCH No. 8 “The Authority of Christ’s Church” – HERE

Your Help:

* CHECK OUT THE VERY COOL MEA CULPA IPHONE APP FOR THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION HERE

Really could use your help with reviews on iTunes! Subscribe, rate and review today!Click here to go to the show on iTunes – HERE

We look at how Jesus used his WILL POWER to be perfectly obedient to the Father which redeems us all and unties the knot of disobedience of Adam. We too can use will power to over come our own situation, look past our emotions, and face the mountina along with our Lord.

* The SHOW NOTES, click HERE, to download a PDF copy.

* Watch the VIDEO version of this episode HERE.

* The intro song was “Golden” by Chris Padgett; check out his website HERE.

* CHECK OUT THE VERY COOL MEA CULPA IPHONE APP FOR THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION HERE

Really could use your help with reviews on iTunes! Subscribe, rate and review today!Click here to go to the show on iTunes .

Today, on “Behold the Man” we look at Genesis 28 & the mysterious encounter Jacob had with a ladder reaching up to heaven.  It’s fulfillment is found in Christ, the Temple and the Priesthood.   Jacob receives the blessing of Abraham from God himself and yet still try’s to keep his options open.

The intro song was “Your Grace is Enough” by Matt Maher. Check out his  website HERE.

Pick up your copy of the Book HERE and the audio book HERE and prepare yourself for the journey through Salvation History!

Really could use your help with reviews on iTunes! Subscribe, rate and review today!Click here to go to the show on iTunes .

Today on “Behold The Man”, we ask the question; did Jesus come to do something completely new? Or, was His plan constant from the beginning?  I argue that his plan for Salvation has been the same from the beginning and he has perfected the old in the new… thereby making all things new.  We will look at the structure, worship, and fulfillment of the old into the new.

The intro song was “Mighty King” by Steve Angrisano. Check out his  website HERE.

Pick up your Fullness of Truth conference talks on CD or MP3 disk  featuring Dr. Scott Hahn  HERE.

Subscribe, rate and review today!Click here to go to the show on iTunes .

Today on Behold The Man, we dive a little deeper into St. Luke 15:11-32 & St. John 4 as we see how much Our Father has great love for his children. We also see how the “Prodigal Son” & the “Woman at the Well” were also direct encounters with God in bringing back together his family, the Jews & the Israelite’s, the chosen people of God.   Its a beautiful scene of the vastness of God’s mercy for us all!

The Intro song was “Traces of Jesus” by artist Dan Duet. Check out Dan’s site HERE.  Be sure to also check out my talk at the San Antonio Catholic Men’s Conference HERE.

Really could use your help with reviews on iTunes! Subscribe, rate and review today! Click here to go to the show on iTunes.

Today, on “Behold The Man”, we dive deep into the biblical foundation for the Catholic teaching on the Communion of the Saints! What a gift God has given us… a family! Want a copy of the show notes? Send me an email at CatholicHack@gmail.com.

The intro song was The single, Our God Is Here from the album “Innocence” by Chris Muglia. Click HERE to check out his website.

Really could use your help with reviews on iTunes! Subscribe, rate and review today! Click here to go to the show on iTunes .

My entire life, even growing up in the Church of Christ Sunday school, when I thought of Jesus’ passion and death, I have thought of him as a helpless victim.  The weak, beaten, emaciated, frail, man who was dragged through the streets of Jerusalem, taken outside the walls, stripped naked, then nailed to the cross; helpless!   This never really sat well with me; as a man I do not like to see Jesus weak, and helpless. I always winced when I read St. Matthew 15:34, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me”. My lack of understanding on this verse plagued me with great doubts about our Lord.  I didn’t know he was quoting Psalm 22…  rather, on the surface, it was a cry of desperation. Was the King of Kings really that weak? Surely not! Could he be?

The more I study the Catholic faith, mediate on the Gospels, and contemplate the life of Jesus the more I’m convinced that Jesus was a United States Marine.  Sounds strange to read that hu?  But, when I read passages like John 18:1-12 I see not a weak, helpless victim but, rather, the man that inspires me to face off with an overwhelming, armed, and highly motivated, enemy hell bent on taking me down.   In the face of just such a situation, in a Garden, our Lord went and faced off with the cohort come out to arrest him.  Unlike Adam, who also was in a Garden and faced with the real threat of an intruder, Nahash, the serpent of old (Rev. 12:9), cowered, and allowed Eve to do all the talking. Then, when confronted by our Lord, walking in the Garden, in the cool of the Day (Gen. 3:8), hid in a bush, and blamed his troubles on the Woman, whom God gave to him! This was all God’s fault!

Jesus, the last Adam, does not cower, does not allow someone else, especially Mary, the new Eve, to do the talking…. No Jesus looks them dead in the eye and says “Whom do you seek” (vs. 4)? “Jesus of Nazareth”, they reply, eager to set the trap, and ambush our Lord with their mob that was now encircling him.  Does Jesus “barter a better deal with the “Band of Solders” before he tucks tail and runs” (to steal a line from Braveheart)?

No; our Lord leans in… with a Gunny Highway (Clint Eastwood from “Heart Break Hotel”), teeth clenched, growl, squinted eyes, and a grimaced face, and says, “I AM”!  Well, at least that’s the image that comes to my mind anyway.  Recalling Psalm 56:9 “Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call. This I know, that* God is for me.” The very name of God, the great “I AM”, turns the hunters into the hunted!  No… Jesus does not cower, or retreat when found in the “kill zone”, but rather, like a good Marine, counter attacks, and overwhelms the enemy with superior fire power.   He is not weak, emasculated, emaciated, or a victim, but rather strong, in control, and a man on a mission!  This is the Jesus that speaks to my heart… he inspires me, and motivates me.  This is the man I long to be… courage, conviction, devout, sacrificial, and resolute.

When St. Peter draws his sword (vs. 10), to defend our Lord in battle, “11 Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?’” I will drink it! Jesus proclaims with boldness.  Jesus knew what was to come, the fight of all time, the taking of the hill, and yet he accepts it bravely with out wavier.  In commanding Peter to drop the sword our Lord clears the way to the true garden, his heart, and the true tree of life, the cross on Calvary, so that we may be drawn to him, take, eat of the fruit of the womb, his flesh and blood, and have life (Gen. 3:22-24)!

As a former Marine, I recognize an order when I hear it… Mark 8:34 “He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Jesus wasn’t dragged to Calvary helplessly; no… he marched on Calvary as a King before his army!   Like a Marine, our Lord leads the way in the fight.  The question is; will you fight with him? Will you take up your cross today and march on Calvary, or will you lie down, cower in the face of a ferocious, and uncompromising enemy, and die? “Fight, and you may die.  Run, and you’ll live — at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days, from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take… our FREEDOM (Another line from Braveheart)!

Today, decide to fight! Don’t be silent, like the coward Adam, refusing to call upon God for help, rather be like our Lord who, pulls himself up on his nails, digs deep down, enduring the pain, to draw a breath, and proclaim “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me”! The first verse of Psalm 22 which starts in despair, yes… but, ends in triumph. Do not be like the coward Judas, who leads the “band of solders” out, then betrays our Lord with a kiss. No,  today take up your cross and follow our Lord as we assault Calvary. Chose to fight and seek holiness today; that is the Calvary we must conquer. Its a daily choice… fight or die; you decide.  I will see you on the Hill!