Connecting Scripture and Life

Connecting Scripture and Life

by Connecting Scripture and Life

Episode 61: Homily from Pope Francis-Jubilee of Artists and the World of Culture

My dear and gracious friend, Rabbi Jason Fruithandler, suggested in this week's podcast that we honor the life of Pope Francis by sharing reflections and thoughts about one of his writings. We chose a homily composed from his hospital bed that uplifts and calls artists to be prophets of hope for the world. As people of faith our art is to live the beatitudes in the spirit of humility and love as Pope Francis showed us in his last days among us. Please share this hope with everyone! Jubilee of Artists and World of Culture https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2025/documents/20250216-omelia-giubileo-artisti.html

Episode 15: Go and Make Disciples - Discernment

Please join Terri Palmer and Adrian Aralar for our conversation about discernment in OCIA. Discerning Christ in our lives is not limited to our catechumens and candidates but part of the life of the OCIA team and the entire community of faithful. Listen to stories of the faithful who seek to become part of the Church and those who have dedicated their gifts to guiding others to Jesus. Through each other we discern our faith and hope is renewed.

Episode 14 : Go and Make Disciples - Easter Vigil Sacraments

In this podcast Fr. Juan Ochoa and Adrian Aralar walk us through the beauty and mystery of the Easter Vigil, from darkness into light. From the lighting of the fire and Paschal candle through the sacraments of Initiation of our elect. The Elect have prepared for many months and this is the night on which they now share at the table of the Lord. Wishing each one of you many blessings this Easter as we all renew our faith through the waters of baptism and are once again called to serve. Easter Blessings!

Episode 60 - Magid, The Four Sons

In this special podcast to celebrate Passover we talk about the Haggadah teaching of the Four Sons: the wise one, the wicked one, the simple nature, and the one who does not know how to ask the question. This conversation explores the dimension of the Sons as children to be told the story of salvation in the way they can understand, and as the four sons that are within each of us. Above and containing each son is the Omnipresent one, G-d, who anticipated the human condition in Exodus 12:26, "What does this rite mean to you?" Please join us for this beautiful conversation that tells the story of who we are. Magid, The Four Sons Blessed is the Omnipresent – blessed is He. Blessed is the One who gave His people Israel, the Torah – blessed is He. The Torah relates to four types of sons – one who is wise, one who is wicked, one with a simple nature, and one who does not know how to ask. The WISE SON what does he say? “What are the testimonies, the statutes and laws, that the LORD our God commanded you?” And you must tell him the laws of Pesaḥ: “After eating the Pesaḥ offering one does not eat anything more.” The WICKED SON what does he say? “What is this service to you?” “To you,” he says, not to him. When he sets himself apart from the community, he denies the very core of our beliefs. And you must set his teeth on edge and tell him, “Because of this the LORD acted for me when I came out of Egypt.” “For me,” and not for him; had he been there he would not have been redeemed. The SIMPLE-NATURED SON what does he say? “What is this?” And you must tell him, “With a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the grip of slavery.” And the ONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO ASK you must open [the story] for him, as it is said: “And you shall tell your child on that day, ‘Because of this the LORD acted for me when I came out of Egypt.’”

Episode 13: Go and Make Disciples - Living the Christian Life: Works of Charity

Catholic Social Teaching is the guide of our Christian life. We are called as missionary disciples to works of charity for our neighbor based on the story of the Good Samaritan. The Letter of James tells us that underpinning all our work is faith in Jesus Christ. Paragraph 75 of the OCIA Rite instructs all of us to reach out anyone in need, no matter who they are, what they believe, or their status in life. Michael Donaldson, Director for the Office of Life, Justice, and Peace along with Fr. Juan Ochoa share beautiful insights and offer practical ways to ground our works in Christ so that all we do reveals God to the people we encounter. We are all made in the image of God and to see each other through the eyes of Jesus will transform the world. Join us.

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

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 12: Go and Make Disciples - Mystagogy

Mystagogy takes place after Easter Vigil and is a time for neophytes to reflect on what God has done for them in the Sacraments. It is a time often misunderstood or even ignored. In this podcast Fr. Juan Ochoa, Leticia Perez, and Adrian Aralar articulate what mystagogy is and its importance to those newly received into communion with the Church, and for the whole community. Please do not miss this podcast, or mystagogy for your OCIA minsters and your entire parish!

Episode 58: Healing of the Man Born Blind-John Chapter 9

The story of the Healing of the Man Born Blind is the Gospel for the Second Scrutiny in the period of Purification and Enlightenment. Just as the blind man was purified in Siloam and given the light to recognize Jesus, we seek the light in order to see him better. No character other than Jesus is named in this story. We are just like them in our journeys of the faith. At any given time we are the blind man now sighted; the parents who were afraid to stand apart from where they belonged; the Pharisees who asked the question but if this man is not from God how is it he is able to heal a man blind from birth? Sometimes we are the ones who argued against the now sighted man because all we know is being questioned. Join us for this moving and transforming conversation that challenged both of us and brought new and enlightened understanding.

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

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 57: Samaritan Women at the Well

This is the story of Jesus's encounter with a Samaritan woman who came to draw water that must be drawn again and his promise of water that gives eternal life. The Church reads this Gospel story on the third Sunday of Lent for the First Scrutiny in the Order of Christian Initiation. It is beautifully appropriate for the process of conversion from the common life to a life of spirit and truth that we see in our catechumens now elect. As with the woman and the townspeople, it is in the experience of Jesus that we are transformed.
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