Draw Near

Apologetics PART 2: Creation, Aliens, & Purgatory

June 12th, 2024  |  1 hr 17 mins

aliens, apologetics, bible teaching, catholic teaching, confession, creation, eucharist, purgatory

In the 4-part apologetics series, Fred and Kara, of Draw Near take up more difficult Catholic questions like: creation, aliens, the Eucharist, Confession, and Purgatory.

Source and Summit (MLMG Ep 27)

April 19th, 2024  |  31 mins 28 secs

eucharist, eucharistic revival, source and summit

In this final episode of My Lord and My God, we explore the meaning of the phrase, drawn from Church teaching, "The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of our Faith." Why is it important? In Scripture, Christ wants to abide in us; to cast our anxieties upon Him. We are reminded that it is only in Him that we have life in the fullest and truest sense.
We also read that He will be with us even until the "close of the age"; He invites us to that great heavenly wedding feast as the true and final SUMMIT!
What does this all have to do with the Eucharist or your life? ...Everything!

Emmaus Teaches the Mass (MLMG Ep 24)

March 22nd, 2024  |  24 mins 53 secs

eucharist, scripture, teaching, the mass

Did you know the Road to Emmaus reveals a lot about our encounter with Christ in the Mass? This is one of Fred and Kara's favorite passages!

Behold the Lamb (MLMG Ep 20)

March 1st, 2024  |  33 mins 56 secs

behold the lamb, eucharist, mass

"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
In this episode, by looking at the Scriptural meaning and themes of "the lamb," we can better understand the gravity of the words we hear every mass... but perhaps have never truly heard.

The Sacrifice of Our Lives (MLMG Ep 21)

February 16th, 2024  |  28 mins 30 secs

conversion, eucharist, matthew leonard, testimony

In this episode we are joined by our friend, catholic speaker, author, filmmaker, founder of the Science of Sainthood, and host of the Art of Catholic podcast, Matthew Leonard. What was the journey from being a Protestant pastor's kid to receiving Christ in the Eucharist like for Matthew? How did meeting one Catholic family who did "relational evangelization" well set him on a new path?

Matthew and Fred share what it is like to discover Catholic teaching, and how it led them both through an, at times, confusing process asking the Lord, "Who are you?" Why was the question of authority so critical in this process? This, too. is discussed.

We look at the "pedestal" that converts can sometimes be placed on, and offer some encouragement for cradle Catholics.

Matthew also describes the radical new way he encountered Christ in the Eucharist and the realization of becoming a part of a family that goes beyond his blood relations, and why that matters!

Finally, we look at the central question of our show: "How has your encounter with Christ in the Eucharist changed your life?" The answer to this question has everything to do with how we build our lives; what we are centered on (or more accurately, WHO we are rooted in). Should our encounter with Christ in the Eucharist be evident to those around us? If so, how? What is the role of sacrifice in a Eucharistic life? Listen to find out!

I'll See You in the Eucharist (MLMG Ep 19)

February 9th, 2024  |  25 mins 8 secs

children, eucharist, fatherhood, testimony

In this episode we are joined by one of the people that makes My Lord and My God (and the Draw Near apostolate) possible: John Fitzsimmons! In his testimony we hear how the legacy of faith has been handed down from one generation to the next; how encountering Christ in the Eucharist shaped his childhood and fostered in him a desire for more as a new father. We also hear how prioritizing that encounter with Christ in the Eucharist has shaped his family and the impact it has had on his children (two of which we are blessed to call friends). Finally, we see what great fruit "dragging your kids to daily Mass" can bear as John shares how his son Jimmy (seminarian) and his daughter, Mary Kate (entering religious life), are deepening his own faith by sharing with him their own encounter with Christ in the Eucharist!

Her Answered Prayer (MLMG Ep 18)

February 2nd, 2024  |  44 mins 2 secs

catholic faith, coming home, conversion, eucharist, sonja corbitt, testimony

In this episode, we are so grateful to be joined by our good friend, Sonja Corbitt! Here, Sonja shares with us her powerfully stirring testimony about how God led her to the answer to her prayer, and the longing of her heart: "Lord, I want to be closer to you!"

As always, Sonja shares from the heart with passion. She shares her journey of falling in love with Jesus in and through the Scriptures and how that led her into the Catholic Church.

Fred and Sonja also discuss the challenges and struggles they faced in making that journey toward the Eucharist; but, also how the sacrifice is worth it! Because in Christ, the deepest longing of our hearts can be found.

As You Did in Egypt (MLMG Ep 17)

January 26th, 2024  |  20 mins 59 secs

eucharist, exodus, jewish, old testament, passover

St Augustine famously said, that in the Old Testament, the New Testament is concealed. And in the New Testament, the meaning of the Old Testament is revealed. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that, "All sacred Scripture is but one book, and this one book is Christ (CCC 134). We hear the St John the Baptist and other New Testament writers refer to Christ as the "Lamb of God." But what does this mean? St Paul refers to Christ as our new Passover Lamb (1 Cor 5:7). but again, what is the significance of this passage? What profound truth was the apostle, inspired by the Holy Spirit, desiring to reveal to us? In this episode we look at the Passover (when Israel was freed from Egyptian bondage) found in Exodus 12, and what it reveals to us about our reception of Christ in the Eucharist.

I AM the Bread of Life (MLMG Ep 16)

January 19th, 2024  |  36 mins 48 secs

apologetics, bread of life, eucharist, john 6

Continuing our discussion from the episodes, Bread from Heaven and Feeding of the 5,000, in this episode we discuss the meaning of John 6 (particularly, the Bread of Life discourse). In this passage, Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." What does Jesus mean? Is this a metaphor? Does he mean to be taken literally? If so... what does it mean for us?

Bread from Heaven (MLMG Ep 13)

December 29th, 2023  |  29 mins 8 secs

bread of life, eucharist, exodus, manna, wilderness

Being a podcast on the Eucharist, we wanted to take up the OT account of the manna in the desert (Exodus 16). Referenced in the New Testament several times (especially in John 6). We will be devoting a few episodes to the "Bread of Life Discourse (John 6), but we wanted to first lay a good foundation and highlight some key passages in the book of Exodus, as well as the parallels that can be drawn in the New Testament and the way the reception of the "Bread from Heaven" should shape the way we live our lives.