Recently I came across an intriguing quote from the 18th century author, Henri David Thoreau, which touched on a theme prominent in the scriptures.
![Understand & Listen (Genesis 18: Luke 10: 38-42)](https://b704496.smushcdn.com/704496/en/files/2016/02/mckenna-tom-reflections-featured-facebook-1.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
by Tom McKenna, CM | December 1, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments
More than most any other, the feast of Christ the King immerses us in this swirling dilemma of negotiating worlds.
by Tom McKenna, CM | November 17, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 2 Comments
When you hear that someone is “acting out” it usually isn’t heard as a compliment.
by Tom McKenna, CM | November 3, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 4 Comments
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.
by Tom McKenna, CM | October 20, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 4 Comments
Most of us know the image backing the word “scandalize;” i.e., somebody tripping over a stone in the road.
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 | Aug 15, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
The Planted Word (James 1: 17-27) Early in the last century, a boy came home from school to tell his mother how he had thrown snow balls at a homeless man lying drunk in the winter street. Taking him aside, she drove home reasons why he should never demean...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Aug 1, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Swept Up Into (Amos 7: 15-15; Ephesians 1: 10-14; Mark 6:7-9) Years ago I was part of a raft trip down a river that was mostly tranquil but which every once in a while would hit rapids. Then what was a calm, sit-back-and-enjoy-the-scenery stream turned into...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jul 18, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Up on Your Feet! (Ez 2:2 Mark 6:1-6) If you were to paint a picture of the prophet Ezekiel as he first appears in the Bible, you might have him sitting back in a recliner, at peace with himself and confident that the way he saw his world was the way the world truly...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jul 4, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Acting For Equality -- in Faith (2 Corinthians 8:13; Mk 5: 25-34) If you’re looking for a topical subject in the Scriptures, you wouldn’t have to go much further than the one Paul brings up in a request to the Corinthians. He’s asking them to help their poorer...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jun 20, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Embrace What God is Doing (Rom 5:1-2) To appreciate the revolutionary thrust of Paul’s message, I think of the story of a young man whose inner voice kept repeating, “You’re not good enough.” Responding to this, he felt he had to keep demonstrating that he had...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jun 6, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Trinitarian Nearness (Rom. 8; Mt. 28) A woman once told me a lesson she had learned during the last days of her husband’s life. He had all the medical attention possible with hospice workers around the clock. But in those last days, she said, all he really wanted was...
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 23, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
The Face of Forgiveness (Psalm 4) In perhaps an awkward way of putting it, one of the psalms has us asking a favor from a face – the face of God. “Lord let your face shine upon us” and a little later, “Let the light of Your face shine upon us.” (Ps. 4). The phenomenon...
by Tom McKenna, CM | May 9, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
On Pruning Vines (John 15) In his letter to the Church in Rome, St. Paul asserts, “All things work together unto good for those who love God.” (Rom. 8:28) No matter what kinds of things happen, both good and indeed bad, good will rise on the other side of it. It’s a...
by Tom McKenna, CM | Apr 25, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
On Being Overshadowed (Every year on the feast of the Annunciation thousands of Daughters of Charity the world over retake their vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and service to the poor. This was the homily at one of their Eucharists.) I once heard someone say...