A Franciscan Heart In the World
by MJohnson, OFM Franciscan Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe
A Franciscan Heart in the World is a weekly podcast about finding God in everyday life. Inspired by Franciscan spirituality, we’ll explore how to see the sacred in ordinary moments—the laughter, struggles, beauty, and mess of daily living. Each episode offers reflections from life to help us live with wonder, compassion, and trust. Join us as we seek to walk gently in the world, loving it as it is and working to renew it with a Franciscan heart.
Episodes
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Home By Another Way
“They set out and there it was, the star that they had seen at its rising, going before them.” (Matthew 2:9) Every year on Epiphany, we hear this familiar Gospel about the Magi following a star. We hear about their long journey, their searching, and the gifts they bring—gold, frankincense, and...
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The Carpenter's Gift
In this Christmas episode of A Franciscan Heart in the World, weenter the quiet mystery of a God who comes close — not in power, but intenderness. Through the story of Jack and his grandfather, we explore how loveis handed down through patient presence, steady encouragement, and the courage to…
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The Dawn That Breaks Through Us
Luke 1:67-79 When God opens a new chapter, it rarely comes with fanfare. Sometimes it comes as a quiet call to step into who we were anointed to be — priest, prophet, and king — in our time, in our place, in our way. In today’s Gospel, Zechariah finally speaks, and what rises from his heart is…
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“When God Writes the Next Chapter Through Our Yes”
Luke 1:57–66. Sometimes God begins something new in us long after we thought our season had passed. In today’s Gospel, Zechariah and Elizabeth learn that grace doesn’t follow the timelines we set. Their yes — quiet, humble, offered late in life — becomes part of a story stretching across...
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The Visit We All Need
Luke 1:39-56 In this episode, we sit with Mary and Elizabeth, and with every moment in our own lives when a simple act of welcome becomes the doorway to grace. Join me as we explore how peace rises when love makes room for gratitude, and how the smallest human encounters can become our own...
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Joseph and the Courage to Say Yes
Matthew 1:18–24. n this episode of A Franciscan Heart in the World, we sit with Mary’s annunciation — that moment when God interrupts an ordinary life with an invitation that feels far bigger than our strength. Luke’s Gospel shows us a young woman who is troubled, unsure, and yet profoundly open....
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The Yes That Makes All The Difference
Luke 1:26-38. In today’s episode of A Franciscan Heart in the World, we enter the moment when everything in salvation history shifted — the Annunciation. Luke tells us that an ordinary young woman in an ordinary town was met by an unexpected call that would change her life forever. But Mary’s yes...
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When Hope Arrives Unexepected
Luke 1:5-25Before we ever reach Bethlehem, the Christmas story begins with two people who thought their season of hope had passed. In today’s episode of A Franciscan Heart in the World, we look at Zechariah and Elizabeth — how Godmeets them in silence, disappointment, and longing — and how their...
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“A Green Shoot in Winter”
Reading: Jeremiah 23:5–8 In this Advent reflection on A Franciscan Heart in the World, we listen to Jeremiah’s promise of a “righteous branch” — new life rising in the coldest seasons — and we meet Caroline, a high-school teacher whose small, steady act of kindness becomes a green shoot of hope…
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The Family God Gave Us
Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus is long, messy, and surprisingly honest. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, Mary—every one of them a reminder that God works right through the complicated stories we inherit. In this Advent episode of A Franciscan Heart in the World, we look at the family Jesus chose to...
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The Weight We Carry, The Grace That Carries Us
On today’s episode of A Franciscan Heart in the World, we sit with Psalm 34 — a psalm written not from comfort but from crisis. It reminds us that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted, that God saves the crushed in spirit, and that no tear is wasted. In a world fraying at the edges — wars,...
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The Yes That Changes Us
Today on A Franciscan Heart in the World, we explore the yes that doesn’t begin in our lips, but in our lives. Jesus’ parable of the two sons reveals how easy it is to sound faithful without ever moving. Francis once lived that way too, until mercy found him. If you’re ready to take one small…
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What the Donkey Saw
Based on Numbers 22–24, this Advent reflection reminds us that sometimes the smallest creature sees God first. The donkey’s insight — missed by the prophet beside her — invites us to slow down, pay attention, and discover the holy in unexpected places, just as Francis did.
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When Hope is Planted
Today’s Advent reflection turns to Isaiah’s promise that “the desert and the parched land will exult.” We meet Evelyn, a widow standing at the window of her winter garden — a place that looks finished, bare, and cold. But with one small act of kindness, she discovers what Isaiah has always…
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The Mother of Us All-Our Lady of Guadalupe
Celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a story of roses,processions, unexpected courage, and the Mother who walks with her people.Whether you know the tradition well or are hearing it for the first time, thisepisode invites you into a love that crosses borders, lifts the lowly, and...
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"When the Nest Feels Empty"
Isaiah 41:13–20 “There are seasons when love feels like letting go, and the silence that follows asks a different kind of faith.”
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And I Will Give You Rest
Matthew 11:28–30“There’s a kind of tiredness that sleep can’t fix —the kind that comes from carrying too much alone.”
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Comfort, Give Comfort
(Isaiah 40:1) “Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.” This Advent, we’re invited to hear those words not as distant poetry, but as a promise spoken into our own weary lives. Join me for A Franciscan Heart in the World, a weekly podcast of quiet reflection, gentle storytelling, and...
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Immaculate Conception-"Full of Grace"
Grace doesn’t always show up with an angel and a trumpet. Sometimes it comes disguised as an interruption — and it waits to see if we’ll say yes.
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A Place for One Another
Romans 15:4–9, , Isaiah 11:1-10 This episode invites us to see Advent as the season when Christ makes room for us — and we learn to make room for one another. Through a simple story of unlikely brothers serving together, we explore Paul’s challenge: “Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed…
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Loving Those Who Wear Us Out
Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6–8 In every classroom, office, and kitchen table, the invitation of Advent is the same —to see with compassion and to give without counting the cost.
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"Seeing again, for the first time"
“In Advent, God comes to us in the dim light of ordinary days, nudging our eyes toward what we’ve been missing-where we have been somewhat blind.”
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When the Foundation Cracks
Scripture: Isaiah 2:1–5 • Matthew 7:24–27 “Advent doesn’t begin with perfection. It begins with noticing what’s shifting under our feet — and turning toward what can hold.”
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"The Feast That Awaits Us"
Isaiah 25:6-10a
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The Shoot from the Stump 12-2-2025
Isaiah 11:1–10 “In Advent, hope often begins where something has ended — in the stump that still holds the potential of new life
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O Lord, I Am Not Worthy 12/1/2025
Scripture: Matthew 8:5–11 “Advent isn’t about proving we’re ready for God. It’s about trusting that God comes even when we’re not.”
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Walk in the Light of the Lord
Isaiah 2:1–5 “Advent begins in the half-light — in the moments before the day is fully awake, when God’s quiet presence is easier to notice.”
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A Franciscan Heart in the World – Advent Edition
Advent isn’t about rushing or perfection. It’s the season when God draws near—quietly, humbly, right into the real places of our lives. Join Br. Mike Johnson for daily 5–7 minute reflections that help you see again, breathe again, and rediscover Emmanuel in the ordinary. One day at a time, we’ll...
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Far More Than They Know
In this episode, Mike O.F.M. reflects on a friendship that shaped his life—through laughter, illness, and the quiet wisdom of presence. A rediscovered funeral program opens a doorway into memory, gratitude, and what it means to be truly seen by another.
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Shall We Dance?
This Trinity Sunday falls on Father’s Day, and in this episode, I reflect on both—through the memory of a Bolivian fiesta, a traditional Cueca dance I was pulled into, and the divine rhythm of love we’re all invited to join. The Trinity isn’t something to solve; it’s something to step into. And…
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A Love that Stretches
What do we do when the shape of love changes — when the people we cherish move away, when routines shift, or when goodbyes come too soon? This episode explores the quiet ache of transition and the deeper invitation to love without grasping. Grounded in Gospel, Franciscan spirituality, and lived...
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The Power of Flowers
In this episode of A Franciscan Heart in the World, Brother Mike reflects on a spring morning at a local garden center — and the quiet, surprising kindness of fellow gardeners. What is it about planting and tending that makes us more polite, more gentle, more human? Drawing on the wisdom of St....
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The Feast of the Ascension-Left Behind?
In this episode of A Franciscan Heart in the World, Brother Mike reflects on the Feast of the Ascension — that strange, sacred moment when Jesus departs and the disciples are left staring at the sky. What does it mean to feel left behind? And what might Franciscan spirituality say to those…
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Facing the Coming Storm-Finding Grace In Life's Hardest Seasons
In this episode of A Franciscan Heart in the World, Brother Mike Johnson shares the story of a man facing terminal illness and the grace that emerged in his final season. It’s a reflection on courage, love, and the quiet ways God meets us in life’s storms.
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Primary Trust
Drawing on last Sunday's reading on Good Shepherd , we reflect on Primary Trust, the story of Kenneth — a quiet man who finds healing through simple kindness. With echoes of the Shepherd’s voice, we ask: How do we calm, encourage, and seek out with a Franciscan heart?
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Thoughts on our new Holy Father
People have been asking me repeatedly over the last days , "Are you excited to have an American Pope?" He is how I have answered.
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Of Cherry Trees and a Harvest We May Not Witness.
What does it mean to plant seeds for a future we may never see? In this reflection, Brother Mike shares a story from his time at his Maryland parish, when a simple act of planting trees became a deeper lesson in hope, legacy, and trust in God’s slow work. Drawing on Franciscan spirituality,...
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Easter Week Charcoal Fire and Second Chances
When Peter denies Jesus, it happens beside a charcoal fire. When Jesus invites him back, it happens beside another fire— this time, with breakfast waiting. This is the final episode of From Ashes to Alleluia: A Franciscan Journey Through the Early Church.Thank you for walking this Easter journey...
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Easter Thursday- When Resurrection Seem Too Good to Be True
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. Luke 24:35-48
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Easter Wednesday-Quiet Miracle on the A Train
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
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Easter Tuesday -“There was no needy person among them.”
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...
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Easter Monday and the Death of Pope Francis
I relfect on the readings from today in light of the passing of our holy Father Francis
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Easter-The Journey to New Life
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.
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Holy Saturday-Sitting in the In-Between Times
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...
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Good Friday The Love That Refuses to Break
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
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Holy Thursday-The Water Turns Black
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…
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April 16, 2025 Judas Mercy and the Love That Never Leaves
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...
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April 15, 2025 When Our Work Feels in Vain: Trusting in God's Purpose
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...
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April 14, 2025 The Servant Who Advocates
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…
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April 13, 2025. "Palm Sunday: When Life Breaks Us"
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...
About this show
A Franciscan Heart in the World is a weekly podcast about finding God in everyday life. Inspired by Franciscan spirituality, we’ll explore how to see the sacred in ordinary moments—the laughter, struggles, beauty, and mess of daily living. Each episode offers reflections from life to help us live with wonder, compassion, and trust. Join us as we seek to walk gently in the world, loving it as it is and working to renew it with a Franciscan heart.
Hosted by
MJohnson, OFM Franciscan Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe
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