Brother from Another Father - Hosted by Fr Isaac El Fernandes, SJ

Send us Fan Mail Are we really called to be the best? In Episode 107 of Brother from Another Father , I reflect on Jesus’ parable of the tenants and the deeper story of Israel’s vocation to be a light to the nations. Israel was not called to compete with the other nations for power, glory and prestige. And neither are we. Whether we are teachers, doctors, accountants, priests or anything else, our...

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to be “empty” enough to receive God’s grace? In Episode 106 of Brother from Another Father , I return to last week’s McDonald’s analogy to explore Jesus’ parable of the two sons and the surprising people who were entering the Kingdom of God ahead of the religious leaders. The problem wasn’t that God was giving some people more grace than others. The problem was t...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the person who arrives at 5pm gets paid the same as the person who worked all day? In Episode 105 of Brother from Another Father , we explore Jesus' surprising parable of the workers in the vineyard and the uncomfortable question of whether God's generosity is really “fair.” What if our relationship with God isn't about earning more because we work...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Brother from Another Father , Fr Isaac reflects on Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant and the radical freedom that comes with forgiveness. The kingdom of God is described as a world of mercy, generosity and release—but that flow can be blocked when we refuse to forgive. Our grudges and bitterness don't only affect us; they can affect the entire commu...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 103 of Brother from Another Father , Fr Isaac explores Jesus’ challenging teaching on conflict resolution within the Christian community. Why do we so often avoid difficult conversations, choosing anonymous complaints or silence instead? Drawing from the Gospel, Fr Isaac looks at the importance of confronting wrongdoing with love, involving others when necessary, and ul...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Brother from Another Father , Fr Isaac reflects on the moments when faith can leave us feeling as though we have been “duped by God.” Drawing from the story of Jeremiah, his own experience of religious life, and Peter’s expectations of Jesus, he explores the difference between what we think God has promised us and what God is actually calling us towards. A refle...

Send us Fan Mail Father Isaac explores what it really means to call Jesus “Christ” — reminding us that Christ is not Jesus' surname, but a title meaning “anointed one” or Messiah. More importantly, he asks whether we have sometimes rushed to Jesus as the answer without first asking the deeper questions that lie within our own lives. What are we looking for salvation from? What are we longing...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 100 of Brother from Another Father , Father Isaac Fernandes reflects on the encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman — a Gospel passage that invites us to take seriously both Jesus' humanity and the prejudices shaped by our upbringing and culture. The Canaanite woman's persistence challenges Jesus' assumptions about who is worthy of God's merc...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 99 of Brother from Another Father , Father Isaac Fernandes reflects on the storms we encounter in life and the challenge of recognising God's presence in the midst of them. Drawing on Elijah's encounter with God in the still, small voice and Peter's attempt to walk on water, he explores why God is not the cause of the chaos in our lives, even though God r...

Send us Fan Mail Why do so many people spend their lives chasing happiness, only to find themselves unfulfilled? Reflecting on Jesus' parable of the hidden treasure, this episode explores the difference between pursuing happiness and discovering the treasure God has prepared for each of us. Drawing on the wisdom of King Solomon, the insights of St. Ignatius of Loyola, and Jesus' teaching...

Send us Fan Mail Why does God allow good and evil to exist side by side? Reflecting on Jesus' Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds, Fr. explores the surprising patience of God and the temptation to judge too quickly. This episode shows how God's grace works slowly, both in our hearts and in the world around us, and why Jesus ends this teaching with a message of profound hope: even the smal...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Brother from Another Father , Fr. reflects on the Parable of the Sower and explores why God's Word rarely transforms us overnight. Like a seed, it requires time, patience, and attentive hearts to bear fruit. In an age of endless scrolling, instant entertainment, and shrinking attention spans, this episode invites listeners to rediscover the forgotten art of...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 95 of Brother from Another Father , titled “The School of Trust,” the reflection explores Jesus’ response to rejection, frustration, and apparent failure in His ministry. Drawing on the idea of “early adopters,” the episode examines how the Kingdom of God was first embraced not by the powerful or influential, but by the poor, the marginalized, and the overlooked. Rather...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 94 explores the mystery of suffering and the meaning behind Jesus’ call to “take up your cross.” Reflecting on surrender, identity, and the struggle between the false self and the true self hidden in Christ, this episode examines how suffering can become a path toward freedom, humility, and deeper trust in God. Through stories, scripture, and spiritual reflection, it consi...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when life forces us to redraw the map we once imagined for ourselves? In Episode 93 of Brother from Another Father , we reflect on suffering, disappointment, loss, and the difficult grace of surrender. Jesus reminds us that faith is not the certainty that life will unfold according to our plans, but the courage to trust that God is still leading us — even through unce...

Send us Fan Mail You are what you eat. On the Feast of Corpus Christi, I explore what this familiar saying means for our spiritual lives. While junk food affects our bodies, the content we consume, the thoughts we dwell on, and the habits we cultivate also shape our souls.  Jesus presents himself as the Bread of Life, offering nourishment that goes far beyond physical hunger. In this episode, I re...

Send us Fan Mail In this Trinity Sunday reflection, Fr Isaac explores the mystery of God as an eternal communion of love. Using the image of a "divine dance," he examines how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have invited humanity into their life through creation, the Incarnation, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Along the way, he asks a surprising question about aliens, salvation, and wh...

Send us Fan Mail On this Pentecost Sunday, we reflect on the gift of the Holy Spirit and what it truly means to live as mature Christians. Too often, faith can become reduced to simply following rules and doing the bare minimum. But the Holy Spirit invites us beyond obligation and into the freedom of love — a freedom where we no longer ask, “What do I have to do?” but rather, “How can I grow close...

Send us Fan Mail On this Ascension Sunday, we reflect on leadership, humility, and knowing when to let go. Inspired by a striking new Banksy artwork, this episode explores the danger of leaders who become so consumed by their own agendas that they lose sight of where they are leading others. In contrast, Jesus shows us a different kind of leadership — one rooted in trust, humility, and the courage...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we reflect on Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit as our Advocate — the quiet but powerful presence of God guiding, strengthening, and defending us in the midst of fear, self-doubt, and uncertainty. Drawing from Harry Potter, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and a remarkable story about Morse code, this reflection explores how easily we can miss the subtle promptings of the...

Send us Fan Mail Hope isn’t the belief that everything will turn out well — it’s the conviction that life still has meaning, no matter how things unfold. In Episode 87 of Brother from Another Father , this reflection draws on the wisdom of Václav Havel and Viktor Frankl to explore the human search for purpose, especially in moments of suffering. Through the lens of the Gospel, Jesus is revealed as...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Brother from Another Father , the focus turns to a deeper question at the heart of modern life: have we lost the ability to follow? Drawing from the Gospel of the Good Shepherd, this reflection challenges the idea that true freedom comes from complete independence. While today’s culture emphasizes self-direction and personal truth, this episode explores how that...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Fr. Isaac reflects on the journey to Emmaus — a story of confusion, disappointment, and ultimately, recognition. When life feels like a collection of scattered and broken pieces, it can be difficult to see how everything fits together. The disciples themselves struggle to make sense of what has happened to Jesus, holding fragments of a story that no longer seem to...

Send us Fan Mail In this Easter Sunday reflection, Fr. Isaac focuses on a powerful and often overlooked detail in the Resurrection story: the first witnesses were women. In a time when women were not even considered reliable witnesses, the Gospels boldly present them as the first to encounter the risen Christ. Their quiet, faithful presence — when others had fled — becomes the very reason they are...

Send us Fan Mail In this Palm Sunday reflection, Fr. Isaac explores the Passion of Christ through the lens of the Scapegoating mechanism , a concept developed by René Girard. By drawing parallels between the Gospel and real events in today’s world, this homily reveals a deeply human pattern: when faced with frustration, fear, or failure, we often look for someone to blame — usually someone vulnera...