“Handing on the tradition” is a phrase often connected with matters of faith.
McKenna
Living “As If”(Acts 4: Jn 20)
Where are the assurances that these claims about Jesus rising to new life have any substance?
We Remember, We Celebrate, We Believe
All of us have heard the phrase, “living in the past.” Usually it has a negative ring – – somebody missing out on the good things happening now because he or she lives on memories of a bygone day.
Fr. Tom McKenna reflects on memories of mercy
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...
“Standing in the Right Place,” With Vincent
“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...
Putting out into the deep – Fr. Tom McKenna, CM
“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...
McKenna – Seeing better in the Vincentian Family
In "Seeing Better" In the Vincentian Family Father Tom McKenna, CM asks what change goes on in anybody who steps inside Vincent's circle? (Homily at a gathering of the Vincentian Family in Belleville, Illinois 2010). ---------- Here's a good 21st Century question for...
There’s Authority and There’s Authority – Fr. Tom McKenna
In Matthew’s 10th chapter, Jesus calls the disciples together and, as it says, “gives them authority” over the unclean spirits and diseases and illnesses. And by authority, Matthew means the power Jesus himself has been exercising, Jesus’ own power given Him by the...
The Giver in the Gift – Fr. Tom McKenna
“The Giver In The Gift” - From what to who [Jn. 6, 24-35] Some years ago, there was a bestselling book entitled “My Grandfather’s Blessing.” It was about a relationship between a Jewish girl and her grandparent, who happened to be a Rabbi. As a sidebar theme, it...
Setting Up the “Grassy Places” Fr. Tom McKenna
Setting Up the “Grassy Places” (John 6: 1-15), 17th Sunday To shake off some of the dust of familiarity from this very familiar scene in the Gospel (the multiplication of the loaves), let’s set it against its deeper backdrop. First off, there’s the condition of these...
Vincentians – A Reconciling Tradition
“to be in this Family of Vincent and Frederick (and all its other peace-bringers) is to be influenced by this reconciling strain in the Family history”theme of being a reconciler, a bringer of peace, a person who would stand in the middle and work to bring disparate sides together.”
Fasting … vows with open hands
On this happy day of Sr. Ellen Reilly’s vows, I hold out to you what might seem to be a strange topic: fasting. It’s got somber associations with negative things like restraint and refraining and penance. How does all that fit into an upbeat event like this? For one...
