Ever wondered how Adam and Eve, who were literally created immaculate, could mess up so badly… while Mary, also immaculately conceived, never sinned? That’s exactly what Patrick Madrid unpacks in this episode, and it’s a game-changer.
The Adam & Eve Problem 🍎
Adam and Eve had it all: perfectly clear intellects, mastery over their desires, and none of the messy temptations we deal with today. And yet… they still blew it. Why? Because even though they were created without sin, they weren’t guaranteed to stay that way. They had to pass a test (and they failed).
Their sin was extra terrible because they didn’t have our usual excuses. No clouded judgment. No disordered appetites. Just a cold, clear, deliberate choice to disobey God. Ouch.
So, What About Mary? 👑🌟
Unlike Adam and Eve, Mary was given something extra: the gift of perseverance in grace. From the moment of her conception, God preserved her from sin, but (and this is crucial) she still had free will. She could have sinned, but it was so unthinkable to her… so completely against her deepest love for God, that she never would.
Patrick gives a great analogy: “You have free will, right? But would you ever just go home one day and burn your house down with your family inside?” Definitely not! Sure, you could do it, but you love them too much for it to even cross your mind. That’s what sin was like for Mary… utterly unthinkable.
Angels vs. Humans 👼➡️👨🦰
Patrick also touches on how Adam and Eve compare to angels. The short answer is that they don’t. Angels are pure spirits, instantaneous thinkers who don’t need to learn through experience. Humans, on the other hand, have both body and soul, which means we experience the world differently. Unlike angels, we’re made to grow in knowledge, love, and (hopefully) holiness over time.
The Wrap Up
Adam and Eve had to prove their faithfulness to God, and they failed. Mary, on the other hand, was specially preserved by God’s grace so that she could be the perfect mother for Jesus. She wasn’t forced into holiness; she simply loved God so completely that sin was never an option for her.
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