In Connecting Scripture and Life first six-podcast series Rabbi Jason Fruithandler and Barbara Murphy share insights and struggles with faith today that the Scriptures both illuminate and confound. It is hoped that these conversations will encourage everyone to see beyond what they know and consider new ways of exploring the same truth. 

 

Rabbi Jason Fruithandler is Rabbi at the Woodbury Jewish Center in Woodbury, New York. He served for seven years as Associate Rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles. 

 

Barbara Murphy has been with the Catholic Bible Institute since 2001 and Coordinator of Bible Studies in English in the Office of Religious Education at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles since 2022.

Episode One: The Binding of Isaac - Genesis 22

Rabbi Jason Fruithandler and Barbara Murphy talk about the strange story of the prophet Balaam and the Moabite King Balak and the donkey that saw the angel.

Episode Three: Balaam and the Talking Donkey - Numbers 22

Rabbi Jason Fruithandler and Barbara Murphy have a conversation about the mode of Hannah's prayer as the foundation for all Jewish prayer, and wonder about what Hannah prayed for, and what we pray for and why.

Episode Four: Hannah's Prayer - 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Join us for this beautiful teaching about God's blessing for his people, and his loving patience and understanding that as human beings we sometimes falter. God's promise of blessing is definitive and infinite. All we need do is say yes.

Episode Twenty-Five: God's Blessing for His People - Numbers 6:22-27

The Lord's Prayer, the Our Father, the Prayer of the Church: This prayer, taught to us by Jesus has been called the summary of the whole of Scripture. Join us in this conversation that expands beyond the literal into the mystical and returns to us as a way to live our lives in order to know how to truly hallow God's name.

Episode 33: We Dare to Say: The Lord’s Prayer - Matthew 6:9-13

We complete our conversations about the Commandments, the Tablets given to us from God. They are a gift for a good life for us as individuals and as a community, as a society that understands that without boundaries, with these laws we have no true freedom.

Episode 37: Commandments: For Love of God, Love of Neighbor, Love of Self

Welcome to our new weekly podcast, Go and Make Disciples: Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. The title is from Mathew 28:19, the Great Commission, to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. That is what OCIA is all about.

OCIA draws us away from a program mindset of initiation toward an approach that embraces a sacramental life of discipleship. This new way of seeing Initiation is about accompaniment on our journeys of faith, walking in the Gospel with others toward a life of worship and service.

This first episode will introduce the podcast, explain why the process has shifted and how we envision the parishes embracing OCIA.

In the upcoming episodes experts will join us to talk about the history of Initiation in the Church; the kerygma, the proclamation; conversion; OCIA with children and teens, among many other elements that order our hearts, souls, and might toward Christ. 

Please join Fr. Juan Ochoa, Director of the Office for Divine Worship at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and your host, Barbara Murphy, Coordinator of the Catholic Bible Institute for Go and Make Disciples: Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.

Episode 1: Introduction - Go and Make Disciples: OCIA

The National Statutes guide pastors and teams through the OCIA process so that they might better guide the lives of Inquirers and Catechumens toward community worship and a habit of prayer, in Church teachings and living a moral life, and participation in works of charity and service. In other words - to a life configured to Christ.

In this podcast Fr. Juan Ochoa and Barbara Murphy talk about the norms provided by the US Church and our role as ministers of the OCIA process.

Episode 2: National Statutes

The change in the name from Rite to Order of Christian Initiation of Adults orients our hearts toward the process of becoming Catholic. The changes articulate that journey and clarifies steps and terms. What has not changed is the vision:

“The Order of Christian Initiation…is designed for adults who, upon hearing the proclamation of the mystery of Christ as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts, consciously and freely seek the living God and undertake the journey of faith and conversion.” OCIA 1

Please join us for this podcast to help clergy and ministers find their way through the renewed process and book.

Episode 3: Go and Make Disciples - What Changed and What Remains the Same

The Rite of Calling to Continuing Conversion is for Catholics who were baptized as infants, but have not been catechized or fully initiated, and for those who were baptized into other Christian traditions. They are already part of the Christian community and in this rite are called to ongoing conversion that will last their lifetime. Please join us as we share the importance of this rite for those who wish to participate fully in the Sacramental life of the Catholic Church.

Episode 7: Go and Make Disciples- Right of Calling

Please join Erick Rubalcava, Chief of Mission and Catholic Identity, Department of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles with Fr. Juan Ochoa of the Office for Divine Worship as they share their experience and vision for OCIA and Sacramental formation for our parish children and families. Often the church and school are separate communities and in this conversation Erick and Fr. Juan offer practical ideas and resources to help pastors, principals, teachers and families be unified in the Body of Christ.

Episode 11: Go and Make Disciples - OCIA in Catholic Schools

The Raising of Lazarus is the Gospel for the Third Scrutiny of OCIA. In this conversation we talk about Martha, Mary and Lazarus as one in our own journey of faith. There are times when we have died to belief and struggle to find our way out of the darkness into the light. Belief is sometimes a great struggle but it is through the resurrection and the life that, though we stumble, the day emerges and we are unbound and our eyes uncovered. The insights gained from this conversation send the mind and heart into a place of seeing ourselves and each other in new ways. Please join us.

Episode 59: The Raising of Lazarus - John 11:1-44

In this podcast Bobby Vidal and Anitra Gil of the Office for New Evangelization and Parish Life in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles share their experience of proclaiming Christ who suffered, died and rose for the sake of world. This is the beginning of faith for all and is necessary to proclaim throughout the OCIA process and the life of the Church. A relationship with Jesus is the starting point of a life of repentance and renewal. Join us!

Episode 16: Go and Make Disciples - Proclaiming Christ - the Kerygma

Interior conversion of the heart to Christ is at the foundation of missionary discipleship. Join Fr. Juan Ochoa and Bobby Vidal as they share with us the thresholds of conversion to life as saint as St. Paul describes. Whether we are well off the path that does not stray or firmly embedded in our parish community our hearts, minds, and souls are always turning toward the way Jesus gave us. Open up to the love of God and be transformed!

Episode 17: Go and Make Disciples - Conversion to Christ

St. Augustine said "he who sings, prays twice". Music is an integral and Scriptural part of worship. The hymns we choose express the readings and parts of the Mass. Music reinforces the rites of OCIA and helps to articulate them to the catechumens and the assembly. Please join Victor Wheeler, Coordinator of Sacred Music in the Office for Divine Worship and Fr. Juan Ochoa in this important conversation about the beauty and power of music in the OCIA rites.

Episode 18: Go and Make Disciples - Pray Twice: Music and OCIA

Many people come to OCIA who were baptized Catholic when they were infants or baptized in another Christian tradition and wish to complete and become part of the Church community. OCIA provides formation and rites for these people who already know Jesus and are part of the Christian life. Terri Palmer, Regional Coordinator for the San Pedro Region and Adrian Aralar, Coordinator of Liturgical Minister Training, share their many years of experience helping our Christian brothers and sisters enter more deeply into the Catholic life and community. Please join us for this very special and important conversation.

Episode 19: Go and Make Disciples-OCIA for the Baptized

The final episode in our OCIA series helps teams understand the Lectionary as "the book" for OCIA and the Gospels as the foundation for topics that form us all in the kerygma. This conversation with Leticia Perez and Adrian Aralar is informative and insightful and provides guidance for OCIA directors, coordinators, and team members to present the Good News in a transformative way. It also provides resources and creative ideas to help catechumens and candidates take the Word into their hearts and convert their lives to Christ. Go to lacatholics.org/OCIA-Resources and lacatholics.org/faith-at-home for ideas and handouts. There are many formation events offered as well. Go to events.lacatholics.org and sign up for the Office for Divine Worship newsletter. You can contact Leticia, the OCIA coordinator at Lperez@la-archdiocese.org. And check out all the offerings from the Catholic Bible Institute at lacatholics.org/cbi.

Episode 20 - Go and Make Disciples - The  Lectionary and Resources

This chapter, read on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, has us face the question of the ambiguity of meaning that caused Hagar and Ishmael to be driven into the wilderness. On this day of judgement we are compelled to ask many questions about our lives and relationships and how we understand words and actions and the consequences of our interpretation. It pushes our sight beyond the moment for a broader view of history and family. Please join us.

Episode 78: Ambiguity of the Wilderness - Genesis 21

Leviticus 19  opens with the word of God to Moses: Tell the people to "be holy as I am holy". This chapter, rich in the commandments, teaches us how to be holy, how to exercise the power we have within us as people created in the image of God.  It warns of the pitfalls of succumbing to cultures outside the law and helps to bring us back to where we belong, in fellowship with God and with each other.

Episode 79: The Power to be Holy - Leviticus 19

We have heard it said to love your neighbor as yourself. It can mean to be kind to others, to challenge us to self-care, and in its deepest level to love others and ourselves for who we are in the truth of our lives. What does it really mean to love our neighbor as we love ourselves? In Leviticus 19:18 after the command to love we are essentially to do this because the Lord says, "I am God". What does this mean, then, for our daily lives and relationships if it all comes from being in relationship with God? Please join us for this conversation about what it means to be a loving neighbor.

Episode 80 - The Depth of Loving our Neighbor as Ourselves - Leviticus 19 continued

This prayer that culminates the celebration of Rosh Hashanah is about the day of judgement for God's people, an "awesome and frightening" day in which humanity passes before God like sheep. At first distressing at its deepest spaces this prayer is one of hope, of forgiveness, charity and repentance. It holds within it the promise of God's love for his people and God's desire that we do not die in our sins but live in his great and glorious love. Below is the prayer, Una Tana Tokef:

"Let us describe the great holiness of this day, for it is awesome and frightening. On this day, Your Kingship is uplifted, and Your throne is established with kindness, and You sit upon it in truth. True that You are judge, admonisher, knower and witness; and You inscribe, seal, record and count, and recall all forgotten things. You open the book of records and it reads of itself; and the signature of every man is in it. A great shofar is sounded, and a silent, gentle voice is heard; and the angels are alarmed, pangs of fear and trembling seize them, and they declare, “behold the Day of Judgment.” The heavenly host is arraigned in judgment, for they are not guiltless in Your eyes in judgment. All mankind pass before You like young sheep. As a shepherd inspects his flock, making his sheep pass under his rod, so do You cause to pass, count, number, and review the soul of every living being, determining the life-span of every creature; and You record the decree of their judgment.

On Rosh Hashanah their decree is inscribed, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed, how many will pass away and how many will be created, who will live and who will die; who will come to his timely end, and who to an untimely end; who will perish by fire and who by water; who by the sword and who by beast; who by hunger and who by thirst; who by earthquake and who by the plague; who by strangling and who by stoning; who will be at rest and who will wander about; who will have serenity and who will be confused; who will be tranquil and who will be tormented; who will become poor and who will become wealthy; who will be brought to a low state and who will be uplifted.

For as Your Name, so is Your praise, You are slow to anger and easy to pacify; For You do not desire death [for the sinner] but that he turn from his evil way and live. And even until his dying day, You wait for him— if he repents, You immediately accept him.

True, You are their Creator, and You know their impulse that they are [but] flesh and blood. Man, his beginning is from dust and ends in dust; risking his life, he gets his bread, he is like a potsherd that is breakable, like grass that withers, like the flower that fades, like the shadow that passes, like the cloud that vanishes, like the wind that blows, like the dust that flies, and like a fleeting dream. But You are the King, the Almighty, the living and everlasting God."

Episode 81: Una Tana Tokef - the Silent, Gentle Voice

Today we talk about the mitzvah (the commandment) of the sukkah, the booth built for the celebration of the Feast of Booths. God told the people in the desert to live in booths and through the generations the Rabbis have struggled to help the people live out this mitzvah. Sukkot is a time of great celebration, a harvest festival to experience life without analysis. The sukkah's roof allows rain to enter, stars to be seen, it shades from the heat of the sun while allowing light to penetrate. It is a sign of God's presence, the light in the clouds of the theophany. Jesus said in John 7:6 just before going up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths, "My time is not yet here, but the time is always right for you." The walls of the sukkah are the mitzvah that we strive to live by, the opportunity to live the word of God, the shelter of God's love and law that is the source of all joy and unity. Celebrate it!

Episode 82: Build a Sukkah for Your Life

Today we share thoughts and reflections about the Vatican II document on the relation of the Church to non-Christian Religions. One of the beautiful things that came from the conversation is that it is the reason we are able to come together each week and share our faith with prudence and love. Join us as we embrace the beauty and wisdom of Mother Church and her acceptance of all things true and holy in every religion.

Episode 83: Nostra Aetate - Prudence and Love

In this episode we talk about the movement of the divine spirit within Jesus and ourselves. The Spirit of the Lord is upon Jesus who will bring us out of captivity to those things that keep us from recognizing and living out the divinity we are endowed with through our creation. To live out God's command to be happy by walking the way of Jesus requires humility. We must move past the question "Isn't this the son of Joseph?" in order to see the Son of God.

Episode 84: The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me - Luke 4:14-22

In this season of Thanksgiving we share this beautiful psalm of gratitude that is exquisitely simple and open to living right now. In its depths it calls us to praise God in a way that brings divine blessing on our service and lets us embraces the service of others. Shouts of joyful worship fill our hearts and the hearts of all God's people in every generation. This gratitude is both personal and communal. It teaches us as members of the flock that we act as individuals for the common welfare, not only in our time but for all time.

Episode 85: Praise the Lord! Bless His Name! - Psalm 100

In this chapter God reminds us that when we are struggling he gives us the strength to carry on. When we are wealthy we must remember that it is through the power and gifts from God that we have accomplished. We often pray before our meals, but when we finish the meal do we offer thanks then? This is the moment, when we are satisfied, that we are to express our thanks. In the desert God tested the hearts of the people to know if they would keep his commandments. In times of stress and times of joy where are our hearts then? Please join us for this conversation about gratitude in the good times and our need to act with humility before God and give thanks for the blessings in life.

Episode 86: Gratitude is a Gift from God - Deuteronomy 8

We usually hear about Jesus tempted in the desert at Lent. This conversation places it in the context of the season of thanksgiving. We know the story: Jesus, filled with the Spirit, is led into the desert, fasts for forty days and nights and undergoes three temptations from the devil. These are basic things we humans desire: food, power, self-possession. When we are at our most vulnerable an urge comes to stray away from what we know to be true into the illusion of truth. When we are brought to the test, we learn from Jesus that being firmly connected to God will keep our minds and hearts in the right place to see through the lies. It is a great gift to have our faith challenged and to know if we live our lives in the presence of God we will stand firm. For this we give thanks.

Episode 87: Gratitude for Temptation - Mt 4- 1-11; Mk 1-12-13; Lk 4-1-13

The wolf is the guest of the lamb, the infant plays by the viper's den, the lion eats hay with the ox, knowledge of the Lord covers the earth like water. All of these things are antithetical to the reality we live in and yet through the prophet, God has promised that this is what will be. This is an aspirational prophecy that shows us what we are and will be. It is for us to live toward this promise of a new creation of love and peace and the word of God as the only weapon against the wicked. Please join us for this transforming conversation that witnesses the bud of new life blooming.

Episode 88: Blossom of the New Creation - Isaiah 11-1-10

Today we talk about lighting the Chanukah lights from passages in the Talmud. Chanukah is not spoken of in Torah and Maccabees is not part of the Jewish Canon and yet Jews worldwide light the candles over eight days until the whole house is glowing with warmth and the divine light of God. This is a beautiful tradition to remind us that the light coming into the world has always been here and will never leave us. Christians in Advent light candles in preparation for the light coming into the world, the coming again of Jesus who promised he would never leave us. This is a beautiful opportunity to celebrate together, Jews and Christians, who hold this light in our hearts and are reminded to live it every day. It is time to embrace one another and keep as holy and sacred the light of God within us and to share it with the world.

Ulla said: There were two amora’im in the West, Eretz Yisrael, who disagreed with regard to this dispute, Rabbi Yosei bar Avin and Rabbi Yosei bar Zevida. One said that the reason for Beit Shammai’s opinion is that the number of lights corresponds to the incoming days, i.e., the future. On the first day, eight days remain in Hanukkah, one kindles eight lights, and on the second day seven days remain, one kindles seven, etc. The reason for Beit Hillel’s opinion is that the number of lights corresponds to the outgoing days. Each day, the number of lights corresponds to the number of the days of Hanukkah that were already observed. And one said that the reason for Beit Shammai’s opinion is that the number of lights corresponds to the bulls of the festival of Sukkot: Thirteen were sacrificed on the first day and each succeeding day one fewer was sacrificed (Numbers 29:12–31). The reason for Beit Hillel’s opinion is that the number of lights is based on the principle: One elevates to a higher level in matters of sanctity and one does not downgrade.Therefore, if the objective is to have the number of lights correspond to the number of days, there is no alternative to increasing their number with the passing of each day.

Rabba bar bar Ḥana said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: There were two Elders in Sidon, and one of them acted in accordance with the opinion of Beit Shammai, and one of them acted in accordance with the opinion of Beit Hillel.Each provided a reason for his actions: One gave a reason for his actions: The number of lights corresponds to the bulls of the Festival. And one gave a reason for his actions: The number of lights is based on the principle: One elevates to a higher level in matters of sanctity and one does not downgrade.

The Sages taught in a baraita: It is a mitzva to place the Hanukkah lamp at the entrance to one’s house on the outside, so that all can see it. If he lived upstairs, he places it at the window adjacent to the public domain. And in a time of danger, when the gentiles issued decrees to prohibit kindling lights, he places it on the table and that is sufficient to fulfill his obligation.

And what blessing does one recite? He recites: Who has made us holy through His commandments and has commanded us to light the Hanukkah light. The Gemara asks: And where did He command us? The mitzva of Hanukkah is not mentioned in the Torah, so how is it possible to say that it was commanded to us by God? The Gemara answers that Rav Avya said: The obligation to recite this blessing is derived from the verse: “You shall not turn asidefrom the sentence which they shall declare unto you, to the right, nor to the left” (Deuteronomy 17:11). From this verse, the mitzva incumbent upon all of Israel to heed the statements and decrees of the Sages is derived. Therefore, one who fulfills their directives fulfills a divine commandment. Rav Neḥemya said that the mitzva to heed the voice of the Elders of Israel is derived from the verse: “Ask your father, and he will declare unto you, your Elders, and they will tell you” (Deuteronomy 32:7).

Episode 89: Chanukah Light Coming into the World

In the infancy narrative of Jesus Joseph is a hero. This is a righteous and noble man who, without any prompting, would protect the life of Mary and her unborn child though by law he had the right to turn her over for capital judgement. Before his dream he made a heavenly choice. Then the prophetic voice comes to him in a dream to take the woman and her child into his home and name him Jesus. Joseph speaks no words. He does what is righteous without fanfare and we never know in the Gospel what is his reward. The Magi are similar. They come from a great distance through unknown divine inspiration to find the Son of God and then the prophetic dream comes to travel a new path. This Christmas we pray we can be like Joseph who does the will of God without thought of benefit to ourselves, but for the well being of others. This is our reward. God bless you all this Chanukah and Christmas and all through the coming year.

Episode 90- May we be like Joseph - Matthew 1-18-2-15

If you would like to donate to our ministry please follow this link, 

http://store.la-archdiocese.org/catholic-bible-institute

and thank you for your generosity and being part of our mission to share the Word of God.

Connecting Scripture and Life podcast explores the way God speaks in different times and places with the same wisdom that lead to a happy life. Scripture teaches us how to live. Through conversations with people who love, teach, and live it we will explore our own lives in the pages of the sacred.

Connecting Scripture and Life is a ministry of the Catholic Bible Institute, Office of Religious Education, Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Connecting Scripture and Life

Popular tracks