The Battle Between the Two Adams: Reversing the Curse

Julie South [00:00:03]:
Welcome to Your Catholic Corner. I am your show host, Julie south. Your Catholic Corner helps Catholics spiritually prepare for each Sunday's mass starting mid week. Each week you can listen to Your Catholic Corner at yourcatholiccorner.com today we're praying from the books of Genesis, Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians, and from the Gospel of Mark in catholic speak. We're getting ready for the 10th Sunday in ordinary time in Year B. 

The program the schedule for today's show is. We'll start by looking at the typological connection between the Old Testament passage of Genesis and the New Testament passage, the Gospel of Mark, so we can get an understanding of why the Catholic Church chose these particular passages to be read on this particular Sunday to be read together. Then we will pray together from these readings.

Julie South [00:01:08]:
And lastly, I'll share my thoughts, my nudges on what I heard God saying to me, my reflections. Remember, please, that when two or more are gathered in Jesus name, like we are right here and now with you and me, he he is here with us today. On today's show, we are reading. We're praying from Genesis, the Book of Genesis, chapter three, verses nine through 15, Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, chapter four, verses 13, all the way through to chapter five, verse one and the Gospel of Mark, chapter three, verses 20 through 13.

Julie South [00:01:51]:
But before that, a quick word about your catholic corner, just in case this is your first time here. Regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey, whether you've only just heard of that man called Jesus, you're new to Catholicism or you're a cradle Catholic, my prayer is that your catholic corner will help bring God's word to life in your heart through insights, reflections, and practical applications that help deepen your relationship with God. Every Thursday we'll start preparing for mass by uncovering the richness hidden in each Sunday's Bible readings, from Old Testament prophecies to gospel parables. I invite you to join me and the parishioners of the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton, New Zealand, sponsors of your catholic corner so that together we can hear God's word and echo. Samuel, speak, lord, your servant is listening. Now let's get back to today's show.

Julie South [00:03:02]:
Now let's have a top level look at the biblical typology we have happening with this Sunday is the 10th Sunday in ordinary time in the Bible readings. Remember, typology refers to when a person, event or a thing, usually from the Bible's Old Testament foreshadows someone or something or an event. In the New Testament, the Catholic Church has paired Genesis, chapter three, verses nine through 15, with the passage from Mark's Gospel, chapter three, verses 20 through 35 for the 10th Sunday in ordinary time to draw a typological connection between these two. In Genesis, we have the aftermath of the original sin committed by Adam and Eve being tempted by the serpent, the devil. This represents the entry of sin and disobedience into the world. In Mark's Gospel, Jesus is accused by some of being possessed by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons. And Jesus refutes this by explaining that a house, a kingdom divided, cannot stand. Jesus can't be in league with Satan because he's actively opposing and casting out demons.

Julie South [00:04:28]:
The typological connection, therefore, is that Jesus is the new Adam who's come to conquer sin and the devil. Whereas the first Adam in Genesis succumbed to the serpent's temptation, Jesus, the new Adam, resists the devil's lies and his deception. By pairing these two passages together, the Catholic Church is showing how Jesus has come to reverse the curse of original sin brought into the world through Adam and Eve's disobedience, particularly Adam's disease disobedience because we've got the first Adam and then Jesus being the second Adam, Jesus is the obedient new Adam, ushering in a new covenant and redemption from sin and from death. So hopefully, as you can see, or as you'll hear when, we'll pray together. Coming up, the church has chosen these two readings to reveal the typological parallel and make the connection that through Jesus victory over Satan's deceptions, the consequences of original sin can finally be overcome for those who put their faith in Christ. So that means us, you, me, because we are Catholics. And if we're not Catholics, then hopefully you'll consider, from listening to this podcast at least sounding out what it's like, finding out what it's like. So we have put our faith in Jesus, and that means that original sin for us has been overcome because of Jesus.

Julie South [00:06:22]:
Now, with that connection, that typological connection still fresh in our minds, let's pray together. We have a reading from the book of Genesis. The Lord called to the man after he had eaten of the tree. Where are you? He asked. I heard the sound of you in the garden, he replied. I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid. Who told you that you were naked? He asked. Have you been eating of the tree? I forbade you to eat, the man replied, it was the woman you put with me.

Julie South [00:07:05]:
She gave me the fruit, and I ate it. Then the Lord God asked the woman, what is this you have done? The woman replied, the serpent tempted me, and I ate. Then the Lord God said to the serpent, because you have done this. Be accursed beyond all cattle, all wild beasts. You shall crawl on your belly and eat dust every day of your life. I will make you enemies of each other, you and the woman. Your offspring and her offspring. I will crush your head, and you will strike its heel.

Julie South [00:07:45]:
The word of the Lord. A reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians. As we have the same spirit of faith that is mentioned in scripture. I believed, and therefore I spoke. We too believe, and therefore we too speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn and put us by his side and you with us. You see, all this is for your benefit. So that the more grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be to the glory of God. That is why there is no weakening on our part.

Julie South [00:08:39]:
And instead, though this, a man of ours, may be falling into decay, the inner man is renewed day by day. Yes, the troubles which are soon over, though they weigh little, train us for the carrying of a weight of eternal glory which is out of all proportion to them. And so we have no eyes for things that are visible, but only for things that are invisible. For visible things last only for a time, and the invisible things are eternal. For we know that when the tent that we live in on earth is folded up, there is a house built by God for us, an everlasting home not made by human hands in the heavens. The word of the Lord. A reading from the gospel of Mark. Jesus went home with his disciples and such a crowd collected that they would not even have a meal.

Julie South [00:09:50]:
When his relatives heard of this, they set out to take charge of him, convinced he was out of his mind. The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, beelzebub is in him. And it is through the prince of devils that he casts devils out. So he called them to him and spoke to them in parables. How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household can never stand. Now, if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot stand either. It is the end of him.

Julie South [00:10:35]:
But no one can make his way into a strong man's house and burgle his property. Unless he has tied up the strong man first. Only then can he burgle his house. I tell you solemnly, all men's sins will be forgiven in all their blasphemies. But let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, and he will never have forgiveness. He is guilty of an eternal sin. This was because they were saying, an unclean spirit is in him. His mother and brothers now arrived and standing outside, sent in a message asking for him.

Julie South [00:11:13]:
A crowd was sitting around him at the time the message was passed to him. Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside asking for you. He replied, who are my mother and my brothers? And looking round at those sitting in a circle about him, he said, here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother. The gospel of the Lord what was God saying to you? Remember that what God is saying to me might not be what God is saying to you, because he speaks to each of us differently. What I picked up from the first reading from Genesis, don't try to make excuses or hide when we've done something wrong. When I've done something wrong, don't blame it on someone else. Own up to my mistakes, my errors, my shortcomings, my foibles, my sins.

Julie South [00:12:39]:
And also that even when we mess up, God still wants a relationship with us. He doesn't abandon us. So even though Adam and Eve kind of blamed Adam, blamed Eve, Eve blamed the devil, the serpent, God still wants a relationship, doesn't abandon us. And then from Paul's letter to the corinthians, from that it was not to get too discouraged by hard times, that better times, better days are coming. Keep believing in God's promises for eternal life, even when life is tough, even when things don't go the way I want it. And then following on from that, is that our real home and our hope is in heaven with God. So God wants us to be with him. This too will pass when we're going through tough times.

Julie South [00:13:40]:
And then from Mark's gospel, don't be too quick to accuse others of bad things, of having bad motives, to give people the benefit of the doubt. And then this is one thing that I really liked, that I heard from God with this, and it was to surround, and this was in the final bit of that gospel reading, to surround yourself with others who encourage and support you in your faith. Now, if per chance, you are listening to this right now, and you are the only catholic that you know, or you're the only person who's considering even exploring this man called Jesus, one way to surround yourself with others who will encourage you is to go knock on the door of your local parish to have a chat with your priest. He believe me, he will be only too pleased to hear from you. So those are the essences of what I think God is telling us through these passengers, through me, to me, to own our sins, to trust in his forgiveness. Don't lose hope. Watch how judgy we might get and to find a supportive community to be part of when we have God on our side. The path is straightforward, even when we might not like being on that particular path.

Julie South [00:15:13]:
So that's from me. What about you? What was God saying to you through these three Bible passages? That we pray together. I hope you found all of this interesting and helpful and insightful. I hope that this podcast helps you prepare and maybe even understand just the teeny, tiny, incy wincy dinky, little bit better, the wonderful word of God and the catholic faith. Thank you for spending the last 15 minutes or so of your life with God and me. If you enjoyed today's show, can you please help me spread God's word about your catholic corner? All you have to do is tell three people, maybe your parish priest, what you get out of listening to this podcast so that they can help spread the word as well. And maybe your friends, your family can benefit as well. All you have to do is ask them to visit yourcatholiccorner.com where they can follow the show.

Julie South [00:16:23]:
From there, it is free. It doesn't cost any anything. So on behalf of God, thank you for doing that. Wherever you are, I pray that God's glass of love overflows in your heart and your life, and that when you're ready, you're able to accept God's invitation to you to join him to share in holy communion at your local catholic parish. And finally, I would like to say thank you to the parishioners of the cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary who helped me bring this podcast to you today. This is Julie south signing off until next week. Peace be with you. God bless and I'd love to hear from you.

Julie South [00:17:05]:
Please let me know that you're out there. I'd love to know how this podcast helps you. Thank you. God bless.