Living without Anxiety

Would you like to learn to live with less fear and anxiety? Here's the secret from Saint Paul!

October 3, 2020: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A
Second Reading, Philippians 4:6-9

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Why Jesus Wept

Deacon Tom leads us on a meditation of the raising of Lazarus using an excerpt from the book by Brock and Bodie Thoene, "When Jesus Wept"

March 29, 2020: 5th Sunday of Lent, Cycle A
John 11

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Little Miss Perfect

Deacon Tom helps us sort out the call to be perfect as "...my heavenly Father is perfect."

February 23, 2020: 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A
Matt 5:38-48

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What's in Your Heart Comes Out of Your Lips

Deacon Tom discusses how what comes out of our mouth and bless someone or devastate someone.

Homily Date: 3-3-19
Eight Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C, Luke 6:39-45

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Failure is An Option

Deacon Tom discusses Google's Project X which celebrates failure, and uses that to springboard into Peter's failures with our Lord and how his failures made him into the leader he became. 3rd Sunday of Easter, Cycle C, John 21:1-19

Homily Date: May 5 2019
3rd Sunday of Easter, Cycle C, John 21:1-19


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Don't be an Ahaz

Deacon Tom compares and contrasts the mind-set of King Ahaz versus Saint Joseph on the 4th Sunday of Advent, Cycle A, 12-22-19

Homily Date: December 22, 2019
4th Sunday of Advent, Cycle A Isaiah 7:10-16

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Looking Back: Nostalgia or Temptation?

Looking Back: Nostalgia or Temptation?


How can looking back on our lives lead us toward the Kingdom or away from it? Hear Deacon Tom's reflection on working in high tech and how God led him to a new path!

Homily Date: June 30, 2019
Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, Luke 9:51-62


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What Do You Want Me to Do For You?

What do You Want me to Do for You?

Homily on the Gospel of Mark 10: The Story of Bartimeus
Recorded October 27, 2018
Deacon Tom O'Brien
Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Community
San Luis Obispo CA
www.NativitySLO.org

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Buried Treasure

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 30, 2017
Matt 13: 44-52

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Transfiguration of Christ - Unlocking the Mysteries

Second Sunday of Lent
March 12 2017
Matt 17: 1 - 9

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Forgiveness - No Matter How Many Times

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 17, 2017
Matt 18: 21-35

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What does the film The Adjustment Bureau teach us about Receiving the Gospel?

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 3, 2016
Luke 10:1 - 12, 17-20

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Joy: It will change the World!

Did you know that by sharing the joy that you have with others you can change the world?

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The Persistence of Bartimaeus

Mark 10:46-52
30th Sunday of Ordinary Time / Cycle B

Bartimaeus had every reason to live life as if the cards were stacked against him. But because of his faithful persistence, he found what what he was looking for. Listen to what Bartimaeus has to teach us today about expectant persistence!

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Persistence: The Story of Bartimaeus

A Prophet Was Among Us

Ez 2:2 / Mark 6:1-6 A Prophet Has Been Among Us
14th Sunday of Ordinary Time / Cycle B

What does Anne Frank have to teach us about our calling as Christians to be a prophet?

Sometimes even the young and unexpected prophets can teach us something about our role in spreading the word of God with humility.

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A Prophet Was Among Us

Laying Down Your Life: Impossible?

John 15: 9-17  There is No Greater Love
Sixth Sunday of Easter - and Mother's Day 2015

Is it impossible to actually lay down your life for a stranger, a fellow parishioner, or even a friend? Deacon Tom uses the film The Impossible, to explore the idea that the opportunity to lay down your life for someone else may come at any time, in any way.

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Deacon Tom Homily 5-10-15

Your Own Transformation: Are you Ready?

We are called to transformation. That's just a part of our journey toward the glory that awaits us in Christ. Listen to this remarkable story of one man's transformation, and how that can inspire us to do the unthinkable!

Reflections on the Transfiguration: Mark 9 / Second Sunday of Lent, Cycle B

Listen now: Homily of 2nd Sunday of Lent: Transfiguration

What's consuming you? There's always something. Even Jesus was consumed by something: zeal for God's house. Can we be consumed with with doing the will of God?

Gospel from John 2: The Cleansing of the Temple

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The Yoke of Jesus

Let go of the anxiety and burden of trying to follow the false and burdensome law that false teachers may lay upon you. Instead, be free in the law of Jesus!

Gospel from Matthew 11: The Yoke of Jesus

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Can You Really Be Perfect?

In Matthew's Gospel (Matt 5:38-48), Jesus tells his disciples, and us his followers, to "be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Can we really be perfect? I explore this as we explore Jesus' instruction to us to put aside retribution and embrace others into the Kingdom of God.

(c) 2014 Tom O'Brien
Listen to my homily  from February 23 2014