Brother from Another Father - Hosted by Fr Isaac El Fernandes, SJ
This podcast offers thoughtful reflections on the Sunday readings of the Catholic Church, exploring faith, scripture, and everyday spirituality in a fresh, engaging way. Hosted by Father Isaac El Fernandes SJ, it dives deeper into the challenges of modern life through the lens of Catholic teachings, providing listeners with both spiritual guidance and relatable insights.
Episodes
37 episodes
Ep 37 - When Going Back Feels Easier Than Going Forward
Fr. Isaac reflects on Peter's return to fishing after the Resurrection—a symbolic backslide to his old life. Despite Peter’s sense of failure and inadequacy, Jesus meets him again at dawn, reigniting the call to become a fisher of people. The h...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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9:02
Ep 36 - What If Confession Was Never Meant to Be Private?
In this special Divine Mercy Sunday episode, Fr Isaac explores the surprising history of the Sacrament of Reconciliation—revealing that private confession wasn’t always the norm. From public penance in the early Church to Pope Francis' call for...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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11:43
Ep 35 - The Generous Get Burnt… or Do They?
This Easter Sunday, we confront the age-old fear that being generous, forgiving, or kind is a one-way ticket to getting walked over. Drawing from a Shona proverb—“The generous one is the one whose house gets burnt”—this episode asks wh...
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8:47
Ep 34 - When God Doesn’t Send the Bill
On this Good Friday, Fr. Isaac challenges a popular story often used to explain the cross—one of a tragic train bridge and a sacrificed son—and offers a deeper, more faithful reflection on Christ’s Passion. Jesus doesn’t save us by taking our s...
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14:11
Ep 33 - When Jesus Fails Our Expectations
On Palm Sunday, we explore what it really means to follow Jesus—not by inviting Him into our lives, but by letting ourselves be drawn into His. As the crowd turns from praise to rejection, Fr. Isaac challenges us to confront our own expectation...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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10:03
Ep 32 - The Stones We Carry: Adultery, Identity, and the Scapegoat Within
In this powerful Lent reflection, Fr. Isaac explores the story of the woman caught in adultery through the lens of psychology, Ignatian spirituality, and Girardian theory. Why do we desire what we shouldn’t? Why do we judge so quickly? This epi...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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15:37
EP 31 - The Power of Embrace: What the Prodigal Story Really Teaches Us
In this episode of Brother from Another Father, we explore the well-known parable of the Prodigal Son—but with a fresh perspective. Rather than focusing on the wayward son, we turn our attention to the father, whose radical generosity ...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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13:29
Ep 30 - Taking Off Our Shoes: Suffering, Technology, and Trust in God
In this episode, we reflect on Luke 13 and the questions we all face when confronted with suffering, violence, and evil. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does God allow this? Jesus doesn’t offer easy answers but invites us to a deep...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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8:10
EP 29 - A Risk Worth Taking: Abraham’s Faith and Our Response
In this episode of Brother from Another Father, we reflect on the meaning of faith through the story of Abraham’s decision to trust in God. What does it truly mean to have faith? More than just belief and obedience, faith is also a ris...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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9:01
EP 28 - What Fuel Drives Your Life? – Lent’s Call to True Sustenance
In this episode of Brother from Another Father, we begin our Lenten journey by asking a crucial question: What fuel are we running on? Using the analogy of a car, Fr. Isaac Fernandes explores how counterfeit fuels like pleasure, power,...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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11:26
EP 27 - Lent and the Lessons of a Broken Traffic Light
In this special Ash Wednesday episode of Brother from Another Father, we explore the surprising parallels between Johannesburg’s orderly intersections—where traffic lights fail but courtesy prevails—and the season of Lent. Reflecting o...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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7:57
EP 26 - Confronting Our Shadow Selves
In this episode of Brother from Another Father, we reflect on the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time and the deep truth that the faults we most condemn in others often mirror the weaknesses we fear within ourselves. Through personal reflectio...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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7:05
Ep 25 - More Than a Transaction: How God’s Love Makes Us Debt-Free
In this 25th episode of Brother from Another Father, we reflect on the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time with a powerful message about love, generosity, and grace. Through a thought-provoking story, we explore what it truly means to love our...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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12:08
EP 24 - When the Small Screen Speaks: Jesus, Justice, and the Church
In this episode of Brother from Another Father, we explore the inspiring story of Viktor Yushchenko, Natalia Dimitruk, and the Orange Revolution as a powerful metaphor for the Gospel message. Through this lens, we examine Jesus’ radica...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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12:16
Ep 23 - Peter's Transformation: From Cynic to Disciple
In this episode of Brother from Another Father, we explore Peter’s journey from skepticism to faith, as portrayed in The Chosen. Struggling with debt and disillusioned with so-called prophets, Peter encounters Jesus at his low...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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11:05
EP 22 - Faith Over Fear: What True Sacrifice Means
In this episode of Brother from Another Father, we delve into the ancient practice of sacrifice and how it shaped humanity’s understanding of God. From the early Israelites’ struggle with child sacrifice to the redemption of the firstb...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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9:45
EP 21 - The Cake That Rises: Paul’s Call to Communion
In this 21st episode of Brother from Another Father, we explore the tension between individual faith practices and the communal nature of Christian life. Using vivid metaphors of fruit salads and cakes, we unpack Paul's message to the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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10:04
EP 20 - Recognizing God’s Grace in Life’s Everyday Miracles
In Episode 20 of Brother from Another Father, we explore the Gospel of John and the deeper meaning behind Jesus' first sign at the wedding at Cana. Unlike the other Gospels, John recounts only seven signs, focusing not on miracles them...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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6:17
EP 19 - From Divinity to Humanity: Understanding Jesus’ Baptism
In this episode of Brother from Another Father, we explore the profound significance of Jesus’ baptism—a moment that challenged the early Christian community and reshaped our understanding of holiness. Why did Jesus, the sinless Messia...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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9:42
EP 18 - The Epiphany: A Journey from Power to Worship
In this 18th episode of Brother from Another Father, we reflect on the Feast of the Epiphany and the transformative journey of the wise men. Far from the misconception of being kings, the Magi were scholars seeking knowledge and perhap...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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8:16
EP 17 - The Holy Family: Lessons in Humanity and Reconciliation
In this episode, we reflect on the humanity of the Holy Family and their struggles with misunderstanding, pride, and reconciliation. Exploring moments like Jesus’ temple stay and his public ministry’s impact on his family, we uncover how their ...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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9:30
EP 16 - The Hidden Power of Christmas: God’s Gentle Arrival
In this Christmas Eve episode, we reflect on the seemingly quiet and unremarkable entrance of Jesus into our world. Exploring Matthew’s genealogy and the humble scene of Christ’s birth, we uncover God’s preference for hidden, slow processes tha...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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7:07
EP 15 - Pregnant with Hope: Finding Grace in the Ordinary
In this episode, we reflect on Mary and Elizabeth’s extraordinary meeting, a rare moment in scripture that highlights the role of women in salvation history. Through their faith and hope, we are invited to see how God’s grace works through the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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9:18
EP 14 - Rejoice Always: Finding Joy Beyond Emotions
On this Gaudete Sunday, we explore Paul’s call to “rejoice always” and how it resonates deeply, even in times of struggle. Reflecting on the wisdom of saints and mystics, we discover how true joy is found by living beyond our fleeting emotions ...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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5:53
EP 13 - John the Baptist: A Call to Renewal and Longing
In this episode, we reflect on John the Baptist’s radical subversion of religious authority and his challenge to complacency within established structures. Drawing parallels to the Church today, we explore Pope Francis' call for reform and the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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6:43