There have been times in both the history of the Jewish people and in our own Church when there was a wide dividing line between the clergy and the rest of the believing people.
McKenna
Solidarity – in Life, Death, and New Life (Mark 14:1-15:47)
by Tom McKenna, CM | April 17, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 1 Comment
A remark I once overheard: “I don’t mind suffering when nobody knows about it – as long as somebody knows about it!”
John 3:16 – Read It!
by Tom McKenna, CM | April 3, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 2 Comments
If you’ve watched any sports events over the last decades, you’ve seen banners held high, calling attention to a famous passage in John’s Gospel.
A Closer Walk (John 2:13-25)
by Tom McKenna, CM | March 20, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments
Early in St. John’s gospel, we see Jesus resolutely striding into the outer courtyard of the Jerusalem Temple, a space bordering on what the Jewish people acknowledged to be God’s own Dwelling place.
Gratitude: The Key (1 Cor. 9: 16-19; Mk.1:29-39)
by Tom McKenna, CM | March 6, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 2 Comments
A question: what is it that allows people to keep on giving? What is it that motivates someone who isn’t receiving any reward or payment to continue being generous?
Inside Authority (Mark 1: 21-28)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Feb 7, 2024 | Formation, Reflections
There is a phase to describe what often happens when somebody who is believable begins to talk: “When he or she stands up to speak, everybody listens!”
Gospel Readiness (1 Samuel 3:3-10)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jan 24, 2024 | Formation, Reflections
Am I more often alert to the sounds of God’s presence? Or do I not pay much attention to the ways God is directing me?
Lord, I Am Not Worthy (Mt 21:28-32)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Oct 18, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
Reading Jesus’ parable about the two Sons, it struck me how often in the Gospels Jesus leans in favor of the ones who are out of favor.
More Than (Matthew 20:1-16)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Oct 4, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
There’s an ancient (1964!) song entitled “More Than”– More than the greatest love the world has known/ this is the love I give to you alone.”
A Faith Dynamic (Matthew 18:19-20)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Sep 20, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
“Listen and Respond.” If there ever were a pair of words to stir up action, these are the ones.
A Very Personal Question (Matthew 16:13-20)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Sep 6, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
To get at a pivotal question in Matthew’s 23rd chapter, consider the distinction between two types of answers, one standard and the other personal.
Prayer Visuals (I Kings: 19; Matthew: 14)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Aug 23, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
The Scriptures are filled with striking visuals for our lives of faith, and in particular for our lives of prayer. One is in chapter 19 of the Book of Kings, up on the mountain with the Prophet Elijah who is fleeing from the threats of Jezebel and her husband King...
From Deep Within (Romans 8:26-7)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Aug 9, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
There’s a way of looking at our religion as a series of truths to be acknowledged and then followed out.
Drinking At The Fountain of God’s Word (Isaiah 55: 10-11)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jul 26, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
With this hot weather scorching many parts of the globe, it’s not hard to appreciate the metaphor the prophet Isaiah offers as a picture of how it is between ourselves and God — more specifically, between ourselves and the Word of God.
Receiving Me (2 Kings,4; Mt 10:40)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jul 12, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
Two agitated men, just coming from a disastrous happening, were walking down a country road and pouring out their shared troubles. Each was focused on his own grief, but each was also was taking in the pain of the other.
Hearing God’s Love (Matthew 10:26-33)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jun 28, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
We readily readily recognize the Sacred Heart of Jesus as the symbol of his great love for us. But as we know from the experience of many, this message given is often enough a message not received.