One way to hear the Advent Gospel message is to put ourselves in the shoes of all those people walking out to that desert to listen to John the Baptist.
vincentian spirituality
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!”
“Practicing” The Faith (Malachi 3:19-20)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Nov 16, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
As with all literature, there are many words in the Scriptures that need interpretation, that second look to get at their more underlying meaning.
Looking Out and Looking Up (Luke 19:1-10)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Nov 2, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
Luke’s 19th chapter begins with a story of “two people looking.”
Louise and Light (Isaiah 58: 5,10)
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 20, 2020 | Formation, Reflections
Yet while walking those somber corridors, St. Louise came to discover right there in the gloom a flickering light that held her on course.
Setting Out
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 6, 2020 | Formation, Reflections
We meet two people setting out on a journey, both with God in mind.
Recounting The Good News (Lk 24:13-35)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Apr 22, 2020 | Formation, Reflections
While not as central to faith as The Lord’s “doing this in remembrance of Me,” the recollecting we Vincentians do has its own way of bringing past graces into the now.
Engraving An Image (John 13:1-15)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Apr 8, 2020 | Formation, Reflections
If we could video a scene catching the heart of Jesus’ message, we wouldn’t go far wrong recording something that happens during the final supper with his disciples.
Words – and Words (John 4:5-42)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Mar 25, 2020 | Formation, Reflections
“I hear you talking. But the question is what are you saying?”
Something More (Mt 5:17-37; I Cor 2:6)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Mar 11, 2020 | Formation, Reflections
Under modern-day pressures to bring the Good News to the poor, may the Vincentian Family continue to rely on that Something More.
Little Pieces of Light (Isaiah 58; Mt. 5)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Feb 26, 2020 | Formation, Reflections
Returning to the light imagery of Isaiah and Jesus, we’re enjoined not to deepen the dark by inaction but rather to let the light of our active compassion push back the gloom.
Gospel Styles (Luke 2:22-40)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Feb 12, 2020 | Formation, Reflections
Have you ever thought of yourself as an evangelizer? There are different ways and styles of being an evangelist.
Spirit Prompts (John 1: 29-34)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jan 29, 2020 | Formation, Reflections
The Spirit of God is always moving through creation and through human hearts. But there are things we can do which make us more receptive to those movements.