Patrick Madrid looks at the Book of Genesis with caller May, exploring the real meaning behind God’s warning to Adam and Eve: “Eat from this tree, and you will die.” Spoiler alert: there’s more going on here than just a physical death! 💀

 

1️⃣ What Kind of Death Are We Talking About?

 

Patrick explains that the “death” God mentioned had two levels:

 

Physical Death: Before the Fall, Adam and Eve were immortal. By sinning, they introduced mortality into human existence. No, they didn’t keel over immediately, but the clock started ticking. ⏳

 

Spiritual Death: This is the heavy hitter. Their sin severed their intimate connection with God, like pulling the plug on a divine power source. 😢 They lost their innocence, sanctifying grace, and the ability to walk in literal communion with God in the Garden.

 

Think about a time when your innocence was shattered: when you learned something you weren’t ready for. That’s a kind of death, Patrick says. It hits deep. 💔

 

2️⃣ What About Those Closed Gates of Heaven? 🚪❌

 

May’s second question gets to the heart of salvation history. Why couldn’t anyone enter heaven until Jesus? Patrick lays it out:

 

Adam slammed the gates shut. By choosing sin, Adam lost the supernatural gifts (like sanctifying grace) that would’ve let him pass those on to humanity. No grace, no heaven. 😬

 

Jesus unlocked the gates. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus restored the relationship with God that Adam had broken. He’s called the “Second Adam” for a reason; Jesus fixed what the first Adam wrecked. 🙌

 

3️⃣ What’s the Takeaway for Us?

 

May nails it when she asks, “Do we die a little every time we sin?” Patrick’s answer: “Yes, exactly!” Sin separates us from God, chipping away at our relationship with Him. But through confession and grace, we can rebuild what sin damages. ✝️❤️

 

Listening to this exchange feels like a masterclass in understanding Genesis and the human condition. Patrick makes it clear: the Bible isn’t just a collection of old stories: it’s the roadmap to understanding who we are, why we’re here, and how we can get back to walking with God again. 🌟

 

 

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS