One of the heaviest of feelings is the one of being alone. You hear it in the cry of an infant, and more generally you catch it in the forlorn look of any lonely person.

by Tom McKenna, CM | June 11, 2025 | Reflections | 0 Comments
I came across a writer who drew on her experience to add some personal texture to Jesus’ words at his Last Supper, “As I have loved you, so love one another.”
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 28, 2025 | Reflections | 0 Comments
The Lord Jesus has his favorite images. Toward the top of the list is the one of shepherd and sheep – not just any shepherd, but the one who is the Good Shepherd.
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 14, 2025 | Reflections | 2 Comments
Commenting on the Apostle Thomas, one writer casts him not so much as a doubter but more a stand-in for those many people over the centuries who want more evidence that the Risen Jesus is alive and present.
by Tom McKenna, CM | April 30, 2025 | Reflections | 0 Comments
I came across a poem entitled “To the Unknown God.” This heading conveys two things.
by Tom McKenna, CM | Mar 22, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
One of the heaviest of feelings is the one of being alone. You hear it in the cry of an infant, and more generally you catch it in the forlorn look of any lonely person.
by Tom McKenna, CM | Mar 8, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
How many times have you heard people use the phrase, “I finally woke up?”
by Tom McKenna, CM | Feb 22, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
Some of the traits which come out in the Samaritan woman as she interacts with Jesus at the noonday well could paint her as a hard-hearted and difficult lady.
by Tom McKenna, CM | Aug 15, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
The Planted Word (James 1: 17-27) Early in the last century, a boy came home from school to tell his mother how he had thrown snow balls at a homeless man lying drunk in the winter street. Taking him aside, she drove home reasons why he should never demean...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Aug 1, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Swept Up Into (Amos 7: 15-15; Ephesians 1: 10-14; Mark 6:7-9) Years ago I was part of a raft trip down a river that was mostly tranquil but which every once in a while would hit rapids. Then what was a calm, sit-back-and-enjoy-the-scenery stream turned into...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jul 18, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Up on Your Feet! (Ez 2:2 Mark 6:1-6) If you were to paint a picture of the prophet Ezekiel as he first appears in the Bible, you might have him sitting back in a recliner, at peace with himself and confident that the way he saw his world was the way the world truly...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jul 4, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Acting For Equality -- in Faith (2 Corinthians 8:13; Mk 5: 25-34) If you’re looking for a topical subject in the Scriptures, you wouldn’t have to go much further than the one Paul brings up in a request to the Corinthians. He’s asking them to help their poorer...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jun 20, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Embrace What God is Doing (Rom 5:1-2) To appreciate the revolutionary thrust of Paul’s message, I think of the story of a young man whose inner voice kept repeating, “You’re not good enough.” Responding to this, he felt he had to keep demonstrating that he had...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jun 6, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Trinitarian Nearness (Rom. 8; Mt. 28) A woman once told me a lesson she had learned during the last days of her husband’s life. He had all the medical attention possible with hospice workers around the clock. But in those last days, she said, all he really wanted was...
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 23, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
The Face of Forgiveness (Psalm 4) In perhaps an awkward way of putting it, one of the psalms has us asking a favor from a face – the face of God. “Lord let your face shine upon us” and a little later, “Let the light of Your face shine upon us.” (Ps. 4). The phenomenon...
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 9, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
On Pruning Vines (John 15) In his letter to the Church in Rome, St. Paul asserts, “All things work together unto good for those who love God.” (Rom. 8:28) No matter what kinds of things happen, both good and indeed bad, good will rise on the other side of it. It’s a...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Apr 25, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
On Being Overshadowed (Every year on the feast of the Annunciation thousands of Daughters of Charity the world over retake their vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and service to the poor. This was the homily at one of their Eucharists.) I once heard someone say...