A Franciscan Heart In the World

Lent is a season for weeding—not to destroy, but to make space for what truly matters. Today’s reflection invites us to confront the hidden "weeds" in our lives—the habits, routines, and blind spots that choke out justice, mercy, and love. Drawing from Isaiah’s bold call to action, Jesus’ warning against empty faith, and the wisdom of Duns Scotus, we ask: What needs to be uprooted in us so that ne...

Mercy stretches us. It asks us to let go, lean in, and love beyond whatfeels possible. "Ashes to Alleluia" is a Franciscan Lentenjourney into the mercy that transforms—not just what we receive, but what wegive. Through scripture, real-life struggles, and the wisdom of Francis, eachshort episode invites you to step into grace, even when it’s hard. friars.us Luke 6:36-38.

Suffering touches every life, whether through illness, loss, or the quiet struggles we carry unseen. In this episode, we journey from Abraham’s long night of doubt to the disciples’ glimpse of glory at the Transfiguration, and finally to Francis of Assisi at La Verna, where suffering became a doorway to grace. What does this mean for those facing cancer or any deep trial? How can pain transform us...

Lent invites us to tend the garden of our souls—to notice what is thriving, what is withering, and what is crowding out new growth. My nana’s wisdom about gardening—pay attention to what’s growing, prune what no longer gives life, and make space for new things—mirrors the spiritual work we are called to. Drawing from Bonaventure’s insight on shedding the false self, we reflect on how pruning distr...

In a world that pushes us to take sides, what if truth is less about winning debates and more about seeing the person in front of us? Through the lens of John Duns Scotus, St. Francis, and a modern-day debate over book bans, this episode explores how truth is encountered in real people, real moments, and real struggles—not just in abstract ideas. Join Br. Mike as he unpacks what it means to listen...

"What if God’s answer doesn’t look like what you expected?" Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock—but faith isn’t about getting what we want. It’s about trust. In today’s Ashes to Alleluia reflection, I share how my time in a Bolivian prison taught me to see God in the unexpected. What if God is already answering—just not in the way we imagined? Matthew 7:7-12. . . friars.us

Have you ever struggled to forgive someone who hurt you? Someone who, in your mind, didn’t deserve a second chance? If so, you’re not alone. Jonah felt the same way about Nineveh. He wanted justice, not mercy. He wanted them to pay, not be redeemed. But God had other plans—plans that pushedJonah beyond his own sense of fairness and into something deeper. And isn’t that our struggle, too? We want m...

Have you ever felt stuck? Like you’re working, praying, doing all theright things—but nothing seems to change? Maybe you’ve tried to repair a broken relationship, but healing feelsslow. Maybe you’ve prayed for clarity, but the answers remain just out ofreach. Or maybe, like me, you’ve looked at a project, a goal, even your ownspiritual growth and thought, Is anything actually happening? Join us to...

In your school, at work, on the streets—how often doyou pass by someone struggling and convince yourself it’s not your problem? Notout of hatred. Not out of cruelty. Butbecause it’s easier to look away. Most of us won’t deliberatelychoose to ignore others, but distraction, busyness, and fear can make us blind to those in need. Today’s Gospel reminds us that the greatest danger isn’t always what we...

Lent is a season of remembering—a call to step beyond the narrow walls of our own comfort and into the vast landscape of mercy. But one of our greatest temptations is to forget—to forget where we came from, the hands that once lifted us, the grace that made a way when there was none. Moses tells us: Do not forget. And Jesus takes us even deeper—asking us to see him in the face of the stranger, to...

Lent isn’t just about giving things up—it’s about making space for something better. Isaiah reminds us: "If you remove oppression from your midst… Ifyou offer your food to the hungry… Thenyour light shall rise in the darkness." Francis of Assisi got this. He didn’t just give to the poor—he stepped into their world. Hedidn’t just offer kindness—he let their struggle change him. Maybe fast...

"Fasting is easy when we’re in control. We decide what we give up, how much it costs us, and when it ends. But what if true fasting isn’t about sacrifice, but about surrender? What if it isn’t about proving our strength, but about breaking something open? Today, Isaiah and Francis invite us into a fast that doesn’t just change us—but transforms a piece of the world. Will we dare to step in?" Isaia...

Ash Wednesday is in the rear view mirror, and Lent truly begins today. In today's podcast, we will face a simple, powerful question: Are we settling for safe, or do we really want to live? Yesterday’s renewal promises might already be challenged by old fears, but Lent isn’t about perfection—it's about stepping forward despite uncertainty and intentionally listening for God's voice amid the noise....

"You step forward, and the minister smudges a cross of ashes onto your forehead. 'Remember, you are dust…' The words hang in the air. Maybe you nod solemnly, maybe you shuffle back to your seat, but deep down, something stirs. A whisper of fear. Not just fear of death, but fear of something more immediate—the fear of stepping fully into the life God is calling you to. What if this Len...