What if God is already doing something new—right here, right now—and our job is simply to trust it?

Isaiah promises a new heaven and a new earth. The psalmist says ourmourning will turn to dancing. And in the Gospel, a royal official chooses to believe in Jesus’ word before anything changes.

Faith is not just belief—it’s living into a reality we cannot yet see. friars.us. Isaiah 65:17-21

Have you ever felt overlooked for doing the right thing—the steady thing? While others are celebrated for returning, you’ve been the one holding everything together. In today’s episode of From Ashes to Alleluia, we meet Anna, a modern-day “older sibling,” and revisit the parable of the Prodigal Son—not from the one who left, but from the one who stayed.
What does grace look like when it’s hard to rejoice? And how do we step into the celebration when it feels like no one sees us? friars.us. Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Join us as we explore the quiet ache of faithfulness, the tension of fairness, and the invitation to embrace a love that has always been ours.

Have you ever felt like you had to prove yourself—to God, to others, even to yourself?
What if the hardest thing to let go of isn’t our sins—but our need to measure up?

Today’s readings challenge us to rethink how we stand before God. The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable left the temple unchanged because he measured himself against others, clinging to his own sense of righteousness. The tax collector, in contrast, let go—of comparison, of control, of the need to justify himself.

And God met him there—not with judgment, but with mercy. friars.us

Luke 18:9-14.

Faith isn’t about standing still—it’s about stepping in.

Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God and love our neighbor. Not just in words, but in action.

Dan, a retired letter carrier, found new purpose by building urban hydroponic farms in a food desert—creating jobs for youth, fresh food forneighbors, and hope for a struggling community.

Some resist stepping into God’s call, but love compels us forward.

How is God calling you to take your place in the story he is writing now? friars.us. Mark 12:28-34

In this episode of From Ashes to Alleluia, we explore the deep resistance we all have to change—even when we know it’s necessary. Through the struggles of the Israelites, the doubts of Jesus' contemporaries, and our own fears of stepping into the unknown, we see how transformation requires trust. Drawing from the Enneagram, the formation of young friars, and personal experiences in ministry, we reflect on what keeps us stuck and how God continually calls us beyond what feels safe. As St. Francis learned in embracing the leper, true conversion happens when we step past our fears into the unknown grace of God’s call. friars.us Jeremiah 7:23-28. . Luke 11:14-23

Formation never ends—and it happens in the ordinary moments of life.

Joe never imagined that his final years with Lorena would be spent as her caregiver. But in the middle of exhaustion and heartbreak, he found something deeper—a love that didn’t need words, a presence that didn’t needfixing.

Like Moses, Jesus, and St. Francis remind us today, Godcontinually shapes us through our daily experiences, gently forming us into the fullness of who we were created to be.

Listen now to explore how God might be forming you right now on this. Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9

In this episode of From Ashes to Alleluia, we explore the power of a single 'yes'—the kind that redirects our lives in unexpected ways. Through Jean’s journey from a retired teacher to a mission leader across nine countries, we witness how trust and courage open doors we never imagined. Reflecting on Mary’s response at the Annunciation, we ask: Where is God calling us to step forward in faith, even when we don’t have all the answers? Join us as we embrace the unknown and discover the blessings hidden in every leap of trust. friars.us. Luke 1:26-38

We often look for God in the big, the bold, the unmistakable. But what if grace is found in the quiet, the small, the unimpressive? In today’s episode of Ashes to Alleluia, we meet two seekers—Naaman , a powerful commander who nearly missed his healing because it wasn’t dramatic enough, and Alex, a restless soul who longs for depth in prayer but resists the simplicity of stillness.

Through their stories, we’ll explore how we often wait for something extraordinary while God’s presence is already here, quietly inviting us to trust the process. What if surrender isn’t about doing more but about being present? 2 Kings 5:1-14 friars.us

The Nudge – Have you ever felt a quiet restlessness, a gentle push to stop and pay attention? Sometimes, God speaks in whispers, in moments we almost ignore. Today’s reflection explores how the interruptions in our day—like helping a stranger—might be invitations to step onto holy ground. Drawing on the wisdom of Bonaventure, we’ll consider how every encounter, even the most ordinary, can be a step on the ladder to God. Where might God be nudging you? friars.us Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15.

We all know the story—the son who runs away, squanders everything, and comes home expecting rejection. But what if this parable isn’t really about his failure at all? What if it’s about a love that refuses to keep score?

Today, we dive into one of Jesus’ most radical messages: God’slove isn’t something we earn. It’s already running toward us—before we even turn back. But if that’s true, why do so many of us still live like we have toprove ourselves? And what about those moments when, deep down, we don’t want grace to be that easy for someone else?

Join me as we unpack this scandalous mercy—and what it means for us this Lent.