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vincentian spirituality
The Sacrificing Seed (John 12:24-26)
by Tom McKenna, CM | October 2, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments
In John’s gospel, to shed light on the meaning of his upcoming death, Jesus employs the image of a grain of wheat.
Modeling Virtue
by Tom McKenna, CM | September 18, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments
One of the occupational hazards of people who study religion and theology is to equate ideas with the force behind them.
All Creation, Praise God (Mt 6:26-30)
by Tom McKenna, CM | September 4, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 3 Comments
In many different instances, Jesus shows awareness of a world wider than the human one.
llluminators (Matthew 16: 15)
by Tom McKenna, CM | August 21, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 1 Comment
David Brooks, columnist for the New York Times, lays out two different styles of interpersonal relating. One he calls the llluminator and the other the Diminisher.
Modeling Virtue
by Tom McKenna, CM | Sep 18, 2024 | Formation, Reflections
One of the occupational hazards of people who study religion and theology is to equate ideas with the force behind them.
All Creation, Praise God (Mt 6:26-30)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Sep 4, 2024 | Formation, Reflections
In many different instances, Jesus shows awareness of a world wider than the human one.
llluminators (Matthew 16: 15)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Aug 21, 2024 | Formation, Reflections
David Brooks, columnist for the New York Times, lays out two different styles of interpersonal relating. One he calls the llluminator and the other the Diminisher.
Is It Enough? (John 6:1-15)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Aug 7, 2024 | Formation, Reflections
A commentator on these readings posed a beguiling question: “how much is enough?”
The God of Creation
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jul 24, 2024 | Formation, Reflections
Images for God — metaphors and visuals that catch something more fundamental and grounded than ideas for God.
Bottom Land (Mt 5:21)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jul 10, 2024 | Formation, Reflections
We all know the phrase, “getting to the bottom of it.” It means digging down beneath the outside appearances to the inner core of something
Who’s In/Out? (Mark 3:20-35)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jun 26, 2024 | Formation, Reflections
I remember a man complaining that there was too much dissention in his family. He used a memorable phrase to describe their connections: “In a given month, who’s in and who’s out?”
The Power For Oneness (1 Cor 12: 12-13)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jun 12, 2024 | Formation, Reflections
The motto on the great seal of the United States is the Latin “E Pluribus Unum.” It’s translated: “Out of the Many, One.”
Hearing the Voice (John 10:11-18)
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 29, 2024 | Formation, Reflections
I think people would worry if someone accused them of “hearing voices.” But the truth of the matter is that during each week, any number of voices are directed at us.
Indwelling (John 14:21-26)
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 15, 2024 | Formation, Reflections
The Lord Jesus grew up in an agricultural setting, and so it’s no surprise that He draws on images that run through that world.
The Shining Gaze (Ps 4:7a; Lk 24:36-80)
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 1, 2024 | Formation, Reflections
A favorite verse, Psalm 4, reads: “Lord, let your face shine upon us.” It summons up a very warm and private kind of experience that each of us in our own way can recognize.
Solidarity – in Life, Death, and New Life (Mark 14:1-15:47)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Apr 17, 2024 | Formation, Reflections
A remark I once overheard: “I don’t mind suffering when nobody knows about it – as long as somebody knows about it!”