McKenna

Naming God (Exodus 34: 8-9; John 3:16)

by Tom McKenna, CM | June 14, 2023 | Formation, Reflections | 1 Comment

Two people are in a conversation, asking how they feel about each other. After much back and forth, one says to the other, “How would you name that feeling?”

The Way (John 14:1-12)

by Tom McKenna, CM | May 31, 2023 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments

Rereading Andre Dodin’s biography of Saint Vincent de Paul recently, I was struck with the phrase he used to weave together the various threads of Vincent’s life.

Get Up and Set Out (John 6:44, Acts 8:26-40)

by Tom McKenna, CM | May 17, 2023 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments

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 | 1 Comment

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.

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...

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.

Taking In (Nehemiah 8; I Corinthians 12; Luke 4: 18-21)

by Tom McKenna, CM | Jan 26, 2022 | Formation, Reflections

“Taking in the news.” It can refer to events both good and bad, taking in the news of a baby’s birth, for instance, or at the other end, receiving word of a loved one’s passing.

Being The Beloved (Isaiah 40:11: Lk 3:22)

by Tom McKenna, CM | Jan 12, 2022 | Formation, Reflections

A gift – something given over freely, with good will and coming not from obligation but from good will and esteem. It raises the question: of all the gifts to receive, which would be the most valuable and precious?

Three Epiphany Words (Mt 2:1-12; Is 60:1-6)

by Tom McKenna, CM | Dec 29, 2021 | Formation, Reflections

This thread of “Stop, Look and Go” winds through the words and actions of this Feast of Epiphany.

Ready to See (Luke 3:1-6; Phil 1:9-10)

by Tom McKenna, CM | Dec 15, 2021 | Formation, Reflections

What the teacher had done was prepare him to see. She had given him a way to notice more of what was there.

Intertwining Worlds (John 18: 33-37)

by Tom McKenna, CM | Dec 1, 2021 | Formation, Reflections

More than most any other, the feast of Christ the King immerses us in this swirling dilemma of negotiating worlds.

Acting Out (Mark 12:38-44)

by Tom McKenna, CM | Nov 17, 2021 | Formation, Reflections

When you hear that someone is “acting out” it usually isn’t heard as a compliment.

Saints Like Us (Hebrews 12.1)

by Tom McKenna, CM | Nov 3, 2021 | Formation, Reflections

There’s an instinct to idealize the saints as entirely different from the rest of us, off in another league at some unattainable level of holiness and favor with God.