A two-word phrase Paul inserts in his letter to the Corinthians is so brief as to go almost unnoticed, but it opens onto a truth at the heart of the Gospel.
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by Tom McKenna, CM | August 26, 2020 | Formation, Reflections | 1 Comment
An important element in this nurturing is what could be described as a frame, the boundaries through which they have been taught to look out at the world.
by Tom McKenna, CM | August 12, 2020 | Formation, Reflections | 4 Comments
An often-heard question: “Is there enough to go around?” Sometimes asked out of kindness, it can also arise out of fear.
by Tom McKenna, CM | July 29, 2020 | Formation, Reflections | 1 Comment
After impressing on the disciples who he is and what he stands for, he declares, “whoever receives you receives me.”
by Tom McKenna, CM | July 15, 2020 | Formation, Reflections | 3 Comments
Among the many obstacles thrown up at us in this time of Covid virus is “facial confusion,” the difficulty in reading the mood and disposition of the person talking to me from behind the mask.
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jul 14, 2021 | Formation, Reflections
A two-word phrase Paul inserts in his letter to the Corinthians is so brief as to go almost unnoticed, but it opens onto a truth at the heart of the Gospel.
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jun 30, 2021 | Formation, Reflections
When Mark speaks to this endangered flock, it’s no surprise that he includes a pair of Jesus’ hope-filled parables, lessons on how things grow.
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jun 16, 2021 | Formation, Reflections
When Mark speaks to this endangered flock, it’s no surprise that he includes a pair of Jesus’ hope-filled parables, lessons on how things grow.
by John Freund, CM | Nov 6, 2015 | Formation, Reflections
Fr. Tom McKenna offers a reflection entitled A Christian Code: The Way (Mk 10: 46-52; Jeremiah 31:7-9) In one place or other, most all of us have come across the phrase “code word.” It means some word or phrase that at first seems unimportant, but if...
by John Freund, CM | Nov 4, 2015 | Formation, Reflections
Fr. Tom McKenna reflects on The Rich Young Man (Mk. 10:17-22) and how we define ourselves in an essay “I …, Therefore I Am” “I …, Therefore I Am” In a philosophy class, a teacher asked, “What is your cogito?” I thought he meant some bone or other body part -- but...
by John Freund, CM | Oct 30, 2015 | Formation, Reflections
In The Encounter Space (Ephesians 2; Luke 6) Fr. Tom McKenna offers this reflection on the space where encounter takes place. Judging from some of Paul’s favorite imagery, he would have lined up closely behind one of Pope Francis’ favorite metaphors, “encounter,”...
by John Freund, CM | Oct 21, 2015 | Formation, Reflections
In his reflection titled Someone Who Knows, Fr. Tom McKenna, reflects on Downton Abbey's 'upstairs-downstairs' structure and someone who knows both sides. (Hebrews 4: 14-16; Mark 10:35-45) In the letter to the Hebrews, and then again in Mark, we come across two...
by John Freund, CM | Oct 11, 2015 | Formation, Reflections
The God Who Gives Life to All Things (1 Timothy, 6:13) New events have a way of opening up doors to riches in the Christian tradition not quite realized before. There’s a line in Timothy’s letter today which gives one instance this process at work, in this case the...
by John Freund, CM | Oct 4, 2015 | Formation, Reflections
The Gift of Meaning (Lk 10:17ff) from a retreat reflection presented to the Daughters of Charity in Los Altos, California. Have you ever come across people who tell you that life for them has little or no meaning -- or even have you yourself gone through times when...
by John Freund, CM | Sep 30, 2015 | Formation, Reflections
Fr. Tom McKenna, CM offers his reflection on memories of mercy Every time we enter into the Eucharist, we begin with the prayer, “Lord have mercy.” It could seem on first bounce that its main point is to bring to mind something wrong we’ve done, some sinfulness that...
by Vincentian Family Office | Sep 27, 2015 | Formation, Vincentian Family, Year of Vincentian Collaboration
“Standing in the Right Place,” With Vincent Father Tom McKenna, CM preached this homily at the St. Vincent's Day celebration for St Vincent's day homily to the Vincentian Family in New Orleans. In his letter on Consecrated Life this past year, Pope Francis pointed to...
by John Freund, CM | Sep 4, 2015 | Formation, Reflections
“Putting Out Into the Deep,” In Two Tones This order Jesus gives to Peter today, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch,” gets heard in at least two different registers. One has been in the optimistic, adventurous key John Paul II gave to it. “Get...