Connected to Jesus Retreat: Living in the Garden in the Midst of the Desert

Crossing the Jordan

This is a talk that I gave to a young adult retreat on March 20, 2021 at the Eastern Catholic Re-Evangelization Center. Using the Garden of Eden as our reference point, we go through how in the fullness of revelation in Jesus, God has been restoring the Garden that has been broken. To go back to Communion with God, each other, and creation. In the Garden we were children to a Father, a Bride to a Bridegroom, given divine food and drink, clothed with purity and truth in communion. In the New Covenant, we live in Communion with God through the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit - "This is My Body" words of a Bridegroom; "This is My Blood" words of a covenant; "Clothed with power from on High" words of a Father. The Eucharist, the fruit of the Tree of Life (the Cross), "opens our eyes" reversing the effects of the fruit of the bad tree that opened our eyes. The Holy Spirit clothes us with power, reversing the effects of being naked and ashamed. This is the New Restored Garden... but even this is incomplete. We see that the Garden is incomplete without Communion with each other. The heart of the Eucharist and the heart of the Spirit, which is Communion with God, reveals God's Heart for communion with each other - one bread, one body, one Spirit to drink from. Fight, be a fool, for love of one another. Your children, your parents, your friends, your relationships, your marriages... they're worth it, fight for it. Live in the Garden even in the Midst of the Desert by participating in God's Crucified Love. If you have topics you want discussed, questions, or comments, email me at [e-mail]. God bless you all abundantly! Available on iTunes, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, Player FM, SoundCloud, Spotify, and Stitcher. Artwork by Yongsung Kim