In John’s gospel, to shed light on the meaning of his upcoming death, Jesus employs the image of a grain of wheat.

by Pat Griffin, CM | May 7, 2025 | Reflections | 2 Comments
Whenever I read John 21:15-19, which is only a few verses from the end of the Gospel, I am drawn to reflect on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his book “The Cost of Discipleship.”
by Tom McKenna, CM | April 30, 2025 | Reflections | 0 Comments
I came across a poem entitled “To the Unknown God.” This heading conveys two things.
by Pat Griffin, CM | April 23, 2025 | Reflections | 1 Comment
At the opening of my homily during the Easter Vigil, I used an expression of Pope Francis that I like very much.
by Tom McKenna, CM | April 16, 2025 | Reflections | 1 Comment
What’s involved in encountering not just the outward appearance of somebody, but more importantly his or her inner life?
by Tom McKenna, CM | Oct 2, 2024 | Formation, Reflections
In John’s gospel, to shed light on the meaning of his upcoming death, Jesus employs the image of a grain of wheat.
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.
by Tom McKenna, CM | Sep 4, 2024 | Formation, Reflections
In many different instances, Jesus shows awareness of a world wider than the human one.
by Tom McKenna, CM | Aug 10, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” (Lk 12:34)These words of Jesus shine a light on what it is that a given society values — what it treasures most, what tops its list of things most sought after?
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jul 27, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
Recently I came across an intriguing quote from the 18th century author, Henri David Thoreau, which touched on a theme prominent in the scriptures.
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jul 13, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
The years-ago world of sacramentals — as you might remember, these were the scapulars and medals and holy cards and statues you’d find in a Catholic home.
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jun 29, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
When breaking into any new territory, organizations send out what is known as an advance team.
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jun 15, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
The mystery of the Trinity is definitely that: a mystery who’s depth and range we can never come close to penetrating.
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jun 1, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
The word Glory shows up frequently in the Scriptures, all those praises of God’s Glory and in particular Jesus’ petitions to His Father asking to give the disciples (and all of us) the Glory that the Father has given Him.
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 18, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
Years ago, walking along a crowded beach, I came upon a group of people gathered around a crying, screaming child.
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 4, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
“They recounted how…he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”
by Tom McKenna, CM | Apr 6, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
In Luke’s 15th chapter, Jesus relates his perhaps most famous parable, aiming to open another window onto the Kingdom of God, especially its meaning for the present.