The Advent message? Not only to welcome the Lord’s arrival, but also to take the kinds of steps which ease His birthing among us.
McKenna
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?
The Collaborative Instinct
by Tom McKenna, CM | February 21, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 3 Comments
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.
Inside Authority (Mark 1: 21-28)
by Tom McKenna, CM | February 7, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 2 Comments
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!”
Already and Not Yet (Mt 25: 14-30)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Nov 29, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
A phrase often on Jesus’ lips: “The Kingdom of God” — or in another iteration, “the Reign of God, His Father.”
Fuel For The Light (Matthew 24: 42-44)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Nov 15, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
Jesus parable in Matthew’s chapter about the 10 torch-bearing virgins concerns actions to be taken in the face of a delay — for us a delay in the coming of The Lord, Jesus.
Get Up and Set Out (John 6:44, Acts 8:26-40)
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 17, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
This homily was preached on the occasion of the taking of Final Vows by a Vincentian seminarian, Alex Palacios, in Philadelphia, PA.
Inside The Fold (John 10:1-10)
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 3, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
Preparing for this Sunday, which is often called Good Shepherd Sunday, I came across a description of the things a shepherd in Jesus’ time would do to care for his — or her — sheep.
Paying It Forward (Acts 2:42-47)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Apr 19, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
In the Acts of the Apostles, we come across a behavior that is not quite self-explanatory.
Toward Jerusalem
by Tom McKenna, CM | Apr 5, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
We disciples of Christ profess to follow the Lord Jesus– and this week in particular, we would follow Him to Jerusalem.
Never Alone (John 11:1-45)
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.
Seeing What’s There (John 9:39)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Mar 8, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
How many times have you heard people use the phrase, “I finally woke up?”
Struggles at a Well (John 4:5-42)
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.
Higher (Matthew 5:38-48)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Feb 8, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
There’s a phrase from the sports world, “setting a high bar.” It means raising the height of the jump just beyond the mark the athlete think he can clear.
A Divine Bias? (Ps 146; I Cor 1:27-30)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jan 25, 2023 | Formation, Reflections
The word “bias” doesn’t have an especially pleasing connotation. It usually means an unfair leaning toward one group and a blindness toward its opposite.