From Ashes To Alleluia-A Franciscan Journey
Welcome to From Ashes to Alleluia – A Franciscan Journey, where we listen to the challenges of Scripture, the wisdom of St. Francis, St. Clare and others, and the stirrings of our own hearts. Lent is not just about sacrifice; it’s about transformation from fear to freedom, from holding back to stepping fully into the life God desires for us. Transformation is slow, like rain sinking into dry ground as seeds break the soil. Mike Johnson, OFM, Director of the Franciscan Center for Urban Ministry in Hartford and a friar of the Franciscan Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Visit friars.us.
Episodes
What if the hardest part of resurrection is learning to trust it? In this episode, we explore why hope can feel scary, and how Jesus meets us gently—even in our doubt.
Br. Mike explores how healing begins with presence, not solutions—from the temple gate to a subway seat. Sometimes, the first miracle is simply choosing to see. Acts 3:1-10
In a world that clings tightly to “mine,” the early Church reminds us what it means to live as if grace is real. This episode explores Acts 4:32–35 and the radical, freeing power of Christian community—where no one claims ownership, and no one is left out. With a story of hospitality and a quiet act of courage from a woman named Sheila, we’re invited to rediscover what it means to hold our lives—and our resources—with open hands.
I relfect on the readings from today in light of the passing of our holy Father Francis
Jan is 42 and just starting chemo. Anna is 71, a retired teacher who’s been down this road before. What begins as a quiet companionship becomes something sacred—echoing the Road to Emmaus.
This Easter, discover how Christ still walks with us—often in ways we don’t recognize at first.
Holy Saturday is a day of silence, darkness, and waiting. But what if waiting isn’t wasted? In this reflection, we look at how Francis of Assisi lived through his own Holy Saturday moments—times of prison, retreat, uncertainty, and surrender. From the cave to the mountaintop, from silence to witness, Francis shows us how to sit in the in-between—and how to trust that God is working even when we can’t see the end of the story.
This H...
On this most solemn day, we remember a love that would not retreat.
He was betrayed, denied, abandoned—and still he loved.
John 18–19
On a dusty Holy Thursday in a Peruvian slum, a basin of water turns black—and everything changes. In this episode, we return to a sacred moment in a chapel with broken windows and a sand floor, where foot washing became more than ritual. Rooted in Franciscan spirituality, this reflection invites us tosee the Eucharist not just as bread broken, but as love enacted.
The question is not only “Whose feet will we wash?”—but “Will we have...
Judas, Mercy, and the Love That Never Leaves
Judas Iscariot: the name still makes us flinch. But what if his story is notonly about betrayal—but about despair, shame, and the love he couldn’t believewas still his?
Drawing from The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Franciscan wisdom, and thetheology of Duns Scotus, this Holy Week reflection invites us to ask:
What defines us—our failures, or the mercy that never stops reaching for us? friar...
A Franciscan Reflection on Purpose and Trust
We all have moments when we wonder if what we do really matters. Isaiah felt it. Francis wrestled with it. Scotus reminded us that each of us is uniquelycreated for a purpose only we can fulfill. In this episode, we explore what it means to trust in God's plan when our efforts seem to fall short. How do we move forward when we can't see the results of our labor?
What does it mean to be a servant in today’s world?
Isaiah’s vision of a quiet, faithful servant—who lifts up the broken and brings justice without fanfare—comes alive in our Franciscan ministries.
From feeding our neighbors on the sidewalks to advocating for fair access to diapers, we explore how humble service becomes both practical and prophetic. friars.us. Isaiah 42:1-7
The people cheered for Jesus when they thought he was coming to bring power.Five days later, they called for his death.
Why?
Because he didn’t meet their expectations.
And neither does he meet ours.
This Palm Sunday, we ask the hard questions:
What do we do when Jesus asks for more than we wanted to give?
friars.us Luke 22:14—23:56
In a world marked by division and polarization, how do we live Ezekiel’s, vision of unity?
Inspired by the life of St. Francis, this episode explores what itmeans to be a bridge builder—choosing relationship over rivalry, stepping into spaces of healing, and modeling the Gospel through action.
Join us as we reflect on how we can embrace the Franciscan call to be peacemakers in our families, communities, and beyond.
What if letting go isn’t loss—but trust?
Jeremiah questioned. Francis grieved. Ben faced retirement unsure of whomhe’d become. And yet—God was still at work.
Join us for this Franciscan reflection on surrender, humility, and them freedom to trust what comes next. Jeremiah 20:10-13
God told Abraham, “I have made you a father of many nations.” Not “I will.”
Clare left behind everything familiar to walk toward her calling.
David stepped into a second-half-of-life vocation that transformed his past into service.
What if trust isn’t just letting go—but walking toward something already prepared for us?
Join us for today’s Franciscan reflection on vocation, transformation, and the courage to trust. friars.u...
The Fire and the Fourth Figure: A Reflection on Faith, Abuse, and the God Who Walks With Us
The furnace wasn’t metaphorical for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—and for many today, neither is the fire.
In this episode of From Ashes to Alleluia, we explore what it means to stand firm in the face of coercion, fear, and silence. From the biblical flames of Daniel to the quiet fires behind closed doors, this reflection holds space...
The Israelites wanted God to take away the serpents. But healing didn’t come from running—it came from looking.
Francis of Assisi wanted to avoid lepers. But healing came when he faced what he feared.
What if the “leper” we need to embrace isn’t outside of us, but within us? What if healing isn’t about escape—but about allowing God to transform what we have been avoiding?
friars.us. Numbers 21:4-9
When Susanna was falsely accused, she didn’t stay silent. And when no one else would speak, Daniel stepped forward.
In a world where truth is sometimes twisted or ignored, their story challenges us to ask:
Where do we need to step in, speak out, or simply live more honestly?
Join us as we reflect on what it means to live truthfully in difficult times—with courage, integrity, and Franciscan wisdom.
friars.us Daniel 13:1-62
In today’s Gospel, Jesus stops a woman’s execution—not with force, but with a question:
“Let the one without sin cast the first stone.”
One by one, they drop their stones and walk away.
But what about us?
Some of us are still holding them—toward others, and toward ourselves. This Lent, maybe the holiest thing we can do is… let go. friars.us John 8:1-11
As Lent deepens, so does the tension. In this episode, we sit with the quiet courage of Nicodemus and the cost of following a truth that unsettles power. Why do we hesitate when we sense what’s right? What holds us back from speaking or living with integrity?
Rooted in John 7, this Franciscan reflection explores the struggle of living undivided in a divided world. With insights from the lives of Francis, Clare, and Scotus, we reflec...
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