Ex Umbris

Abraham was 99 years old when God appeared to him with a clear message: "I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless." Abraham's response was to bow down before God, showing that he was ready to let God be in control of his life. God then changed Abram's name to Abraham, which means "father of a multitude." This name change represented a fresh start and new purpo...

"Abraham's Covenant - A Journey of Faith"- Connections between Abraham's covenant and the Pascal Mystery- How Christ fulfills the covenant as priest, king, and victim- Our call to respond to God's dialogue in our own livesDr. Gerard McLarney and Dr. Brett Fawcett are teachers at St. Isidore ONLINE Chesterton Academy in Sherwood Park, AB Canada. SILC Chesterton Academy is a cl...

Why Is the Night Sky Dark? Exploring Olbers' Paradox Through a Classical Lens In this episode, we tackle one of astronomy's most intriguing questions: Why is the night sky dark? What seems like a simple observation actually leads us into Olbers' Paradox , a centuries-old puzzle that reveals surprising truths about our universe. - Understanding the Paradox : We break down the logical pr...

In this engaging biblical study, we explore the profound story of Abram's rescue of Lot and his encounter with the mysterious king Melchizedek. This lesson examines the difference between worldly separation (lording over others) and holy separation (being set apart for God's purposes). Key Topics Covered: - The biblical definition of holiness as "being set apart" - Abram's ca...

"The 318 Warriors: How Ancient Wisdom Guides Modern Faith"Join Dr. Brett Fawcett for an incredible journey through one of the most fascinating stories in Genesis and discover how it connects to a pivotal moment in Christian history! This isn't your typical Bible study - it's an adventure through ancient warfare, church councils, and the power of classical education.🔥 **What You&...

The Tower of Babel - Ancient Lessons for Modern TimesThis video explores the biblical story of the Tower of Babel from Genesis 11 and its relevance to modern society. Key points include: The ancient desire for a unified world with one language The story of Babel as a cautionary tale about human pride and ambition Connections to other biblical figures like Cain and Nimrod Parallels between ancient...

In this engaging video, Dr. Brett Fawcett dives into Genesis 10 from the Bible, commonly known as "The Table of Nations." He reveals that this chapter is far more than just a list of names – it's actually a fascinating prequel to human history. Dr. Fawcett explains how Genesis 10 provides crucial context for many nations and peoples mentioned throughout the Bible. He connects these ancient names t...

This video discusses the biblical story of Noah's drunkenness from Genesis 9- The speaker analyzes the passage and its implications for modern life- Main themes include: 1. The dangers of drunkenness 2. Family discord and its long-lasting effects 3. The importance of seeking peace through ChristThis video offers a thoughtful exploration of a challenging biblical text, making connections to mod...

This reflection by Dr. Fawcett explores the story of Noah and his sons, drawing parallels between Noah's experience and Adam's in the Garden of Eden. Both narratives involve themes of sin, nakedness, and shame, highlighting humanity's ongoing struggle with temptation. The episode focuses on Ham's sin of exposing his father's drunkenness, contrasting it with Shem and Japheth&#39...

This video explores the biblical story of Noah's Ark, drawing parallels between the flood and personal transformation. Dr. Brett Fawcett discusses how God's "punishments" can be viewed as gifts, using his own experience in seminary as an example. He delves into the symbolism of the ark, the flood, and the rainbow, connecting these to themes of spiritual growth, new creation, and...

This video features a lecture on March 13/25 on the biblical story of Noah's Ark, exploring its deeper spiritual meanings and connections to Christian theology. The Dr. Gerard Mclarney discusses:- The symbolism of the Ark as a place of salvation and intimacy with God- The significance of God "remembering" Noah and what this means for believers- Parallels between the Ark and Christian...

Introducing our "Keith Sessions" named after Gilbert Keith Chesterton. This one was recorded March 11/25 as a Reflection for our SILC Chesterton Academy students. Dive into the profound symbolism of Noah's Ark and the Great Flood in this insightful lecture by Dr. Fawcett. Discover how the story represents both God's judgment and His mercy, exploring themes of rest, new creation,...

Introducing our "Keith Sessions" named after Gilbert Keith Chesterton. This one was recorded February 27/25 as a Reflection for our SILC Chesterton Academy students. Let's explore the profound connection between daily rituals and spiritual meaning, using Noah's Ark as a central metaphor. Dr. Mclarney discusses how morning routines bring order to chaos, much like Noah's obedie...

Introducing our "Keith Sessions" named after Gilbert Keith Chesterton. This one was recorded February 20/25 as a Reflection for our SILC Chesterton Academy students. In this insightful talk, we explore the deeper spiritual symbolism of Noah's Ark beyond just a boat carrying animals. Dr. Brett Fawcett reveals how the Ark's three-tiered design mirrors other sacred spaces in scriptu...

Introducing our "Keith Sessions" named after Gilbert Keith Chesterton. This one was recorded February 13/25 as a Reflection for our SILC Chesterton Academy students. In this theological exploration, we delve into Genesis 6 and its mysterious account of the Nephilim, examining three different interpretations of this fascinating biblical passage. The speaker discusses how this text relates...

Drawing from figures like Pythagoras and Platinus, Dr. Mclarney and Dr. Fawcett discuss the philosophical and theological underpinnings of these subjects, emphasizing the concept of unity as a foundational principle. They explain how arithmetic begins with the monad and multiplicity, geometry with the point, music with ratios, and astronomy with shapes in motion, all ultimately connected to a divi...

In this episode of the Ex Umbris podcast, Scholar McLarney (Dr. Gerard Mclarney) and Schoolman Fawcett (Dr. Brett Fawcett), teachers at the Chesterton Academy of St. Isidore Learning Centre, dive deep into the symbolic meaning of Noah's Ark. They explore the dimensions and materials of the ark as described in Genesis 6:14-16, discussing how these details point to Christ, the Church, and our relati...

Scholarch McLarney and Schoolman Fawcett from St. Isidore Chesterton Academy explore Genesis 5, a genealogy from Adam to Noah. They analyze the meanings of the names and their sequence to uncover a hidden narrative of faith and decline. The speakers discuss how the choices of individuals in Seth's lineage contrast with those of Cain's, highlighting the importance of choosing to follow God....

The classical model of education required students to read Ptolemy's work on astronomy. Does Ptolemy have anything to teach us in a post-Copernican world? Schoolman Fawcett says "yes!" In this episode, he will discuss Ptolemy's understanding of physical science with Scholarch McLarney and how this perspective--which recognizes our limited knowledge and the importance of mathemati...

In this episode of “Ex Umbris” podcast we are discussing the allegorical interpretation of a song,  “Luskentyre," by the band Lapwing. The discussion explores how classical Catholic education approaches literary analysis, emphasizing the inherent meaning in creation reflecting God's logos. Let's connect the song's imagery of building a kite—a stick representing the cross, a rag symbolizing resurre...

In this podcast episode, Dr. Gerard McLarney and Dr. Brett Fawcett discuss a classical approach to interpreting the world, including scripture, art, and nature. They emphasize exegesis, drawing meaning out of a text, rather than isogesis, reading meaning into it. They explore the concept of the Logos, the divine word and underlying reason of the universe, arguing that it is reflected in creation....

Are you struggling to hear God's voice in your life? Do you ever feel like you're speaking when you should be silent , or staying silent when you should be speaking up ?This episode of the ExUmbris Podcast explores the theme of silence and speech in the Gospel of Mark. Join us as we examine the disciples' struggles with fear, doubt, and failure , and discover how Jesus calls us to overcome our spi...

In this episode of the Ex Umbris podcast, Dr. Gerard McLarney and Dr. Fawcett delve into the ontological argument for the existence of God, tracing its development from Anselm through to Kant, Hegel, and modern interpretations. They discuss its philosophical implications, its challenges, and the ways it has shaped theological and philosophical thought over centuries. Dr. Gerard McLarney and Dr. Br...

Explore an intriguing aspect of Jesus' behavior in the Gospel of Mark - his moments of silence during crucial events. This podcast examines instances where Jesus remains quiet when we might expect him to speak, particularly during his trial before crucifixion. We'll discuss possible interpretations of this silence, including theological significance, literary device, and even a comparison to the m...

Welcome back, listeners! Today we're continuing our exploration of Psalm 51, one of the most powerful and moving psalms in the Bible. In our last episode, we began unpacking the rich layers of meaning in this ancient prayer of repentance attributed to King David.  In this episode, we'll be diving deeper into: 1. The concept of renewal and rebirth in Psalm 51 2. The imagery of bones, hearts, and sp...