McKenna
The Big Hearted (Micah 6:6-8; Rev 14:13; Lk 8:4-15)
by Tom McKenna, CM | October 6, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 5 Comments
This homily was preached at a recent anniversary Mass for Fr. Joseph Daly, C.M. — a Vincentian priest beloved of many,
Playing Favorites? (James 2:1-5)
by Tom McKenna, CM | September 22, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 1 Comment
I knew a close-knit family of 5 personable children, and as they got older, they would kid their mother about having a favorite.
The Word (Deut 4: 1-8; Jas 1:17-27)
by Tom McKenna, CM | September 8, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 2 Comments
I remember a heated conversation between a man who was promising something to a woman, and the woman to whom the promise was being made. It ended with her exasperated response, “Those are just words.”
In This Together (Joshua 24; John 6)
by Tom McKenna, CM | August 25, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 1 Comment
Our believing is not solitary. The quality of one person’s faith spills over into the religious convictions of all the others.
Trinitarian Living (John 16: 12-15)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jun 15, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
The mystery of the Trinity is definitely that: a mystery who’s depth and range we can never come close to penetrating.
Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory (Rev. 22: 16; Jn 17: 20-26)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jun 1, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
The word Glory shows up frequently in the Scriptures, all those praises of God’s Glory and in particular Jesus’ petitions to His Father asking to give the disciples (and all of us) the Glory that the Father has given Him.
Hearing The Voice (John 10:1-10)
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 18, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
Years ago, walking along a crowded beach, I came upon a group of people gathered around a crying, screaming child.
Why This Suffering?
by Tom McKenna, CM | Feb 14, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Why This Suffering? (Job 7) If you were charged with collecting a series of writings aimed to persuade people that God is overflowingly good and ever desirous for the good of His people, would you have included the Book of Job? We look in on the main character, this...
Circles of Repentance
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jan 31, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Circles of Repentance (Jonah 3; Mk 1:14-15) At the beginning of Mark’s gospel, Jesus issues a no-holds-barred directive: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel!” It’s worthwhile noting that his command does not mean asking forgiveness for this or that sin. More...
The Holiness Quotient
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jan 17, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
The Holiness Quotient (Lk 2: 25-40) The initials “EQ.” Different from IQ, meaning Intelligence Quotient which measures mental ability, they stand for Emotional Quotient and refer to the degree to which one person can read the feelings and mood of another -- or more...
Words That Glow
by Tom McKenna, CM | Dec 27, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
Words That Glow (Isaiah 6:11; John 1:23) A familiar phrase, “It leapt off the page at me!” Of all the lines and sentences in a book, one starts to glow and flash out as if it were being spoken to me personally. I mention this because a single sentence occurring in...
Nimble in Advent
by Tom McKenna, CM | Dec 13, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
Nimble in Advent (Is. 64; I Cor 1:3; Mk. 13:33) There’s a term I’ve heard used lately in business circles that’s practically become a buzz word. And that’s “nimble.” It refers to the quickness with which a given company can react to changes happening in the world...
Getting Ready…Be Prepared
by Tom McKenna, CM | Nov 29, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
“Getting Ready” (Wisdom 6:12-16; Mt 25:1-13) “Be Prepared” is a famous theme in Boy Scout lore but also frequently shows up in the Scriptures. The injunction in the Book of Wisdom to keep a watchful eye for the coming of God’s presence (Wisdom 6), and Jesus’ praise of...
Words That Ring Deep and True
by Tom McKenna, CM | Nov 15, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
Some years ago, I experienced what you might call a “surprise in sound.” Coming down a corridor talking with a few other people in normal voices, we turned a corner into a smaller space. All at once our voices took on another sound -- fuller, richer, you might even...
The Character of God
by Tom McKenna, CM | Nov 1, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
I remember talking to a man who was leaving a good position in his company after over 30 years on the job. He didn’t want to, but he said it wasn’t the same company he had come to those three decades ago. He lamented that it had lost its lights and heart, particularly...
The Finger of God
by Tom McKenna, CM | Oct 18, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
Just last week at the end of a sequence of calamitous happenings in the country and world, someone remarked that if he had one wish it would be that when turning on the news he’d hear something other than bad news. His wish caught the dark and heavy feelings of the...