Sermon.03.28.21.Palm Sunday B St. Paul’s Episcopal – Brookings Fr. Larry Ort Liturgy of the Palms: Mark 11.1-11; Psalm 118.1-2, 19-29 Liturgy of the Word: Isaiah 50.4-9a; Psalm 31.9-16; Philippians 2.5-11; Mark 14.1 – 15.47 Last Sunday we considered the question, “What does it mean to see Jesus?” In the gospel reading, some Greeks who had gone up to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover approached Philip and said, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” When we truly see Jesus, we

Sermon.03.21.21.Lent 5 St. Paul’s Episcopal – Brookings Fr. Larry Ort Jeremiah 31.31-34; Psalm 51.1-13; Hebrew 5.5-10; john 12.20-33 Last week we considered the nature of eternal life. Drawing from the work of N. T., Wright, we noted the ancient Jewish belief in two aions, or eons: the present age and the age to come. When Jesus was lifted up in death and resurrection, he ushered in the age to come – what we have come to call eternal life. Thus, eternal life is not to be unde

Sermon.03.14.21.Lent 4 St. Paul’s Episcopal – Brookings Fr. Larry Ort Number 21.4-9; Psalm 107.1-3, 17-22; Ephesians 2.1-10; John 3.14-21 In Numbers 21, the Children of Israel are encamped at Mt. Hor, roughly 10 miles west of the Dead Sea. They are en route to the Promised Land. The previous chapter records the denial of their request for passage through Edom and the death and burial of Aaron, Moses’ brother and High Priest, on Mt. Hor. Edom’s refusal to grant passage meant t

Sermon.03.07.21.Lent3 St. Paul’s Episcopal – Brookings Fr. Larry Ort Exodus 20.1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1.18-25; John 2.13-22 The past few days were perfect for ice-fishing, but the ice is rapidly melting. I endured the usual good-natured ribbing from my fishing friends as they speculated on the length of today’s sermon – given the time on the ice, consensus held it was bound to be short! I reminded my friends that Jesus’ first disciples were called from among fishermen;