Sermon.06.27.21.Proper8B St. Paul’s Episcopal – Brookings Fr. Larry Ort 2 Samuel 1.1, 17-27; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 8.7-15; Mark 5.21-43 Let’s briefly recap some of our journey through the gospel of Mark. Two weeks ago we considered two of Jesus’ parables concerning the reign of God: the Parable of the Growing Seed and the Parable of the Mustard Seed. Last week we noted how Jesus and the disciples were crossing the sea of Galilee when a violent windstorm arose, how Jesus “w

Sermon.06.20.21 St. Paul’s Episcopal – Brookings Fr. Larry Ort 1 Samuel 17.1a,4-11,19-23; Psalm 9.9-20; 2 Corinthians 6.1-13; Mark 4.35-41 Last Sunday we examined two of Jesus’ parables about the reign of God – the Parable of the Growing Seed and the Parable of the Mustard Seed. Parables usually tell a thought-provoking story. The Parable of the Growing Seed invites us to consider how God’s reign grows in mystifying ways. Likewise, The Parable of the Mustard Seed invites us t

Sermon.06.13.21.Proper6B St. Paul’s Episcopal – Brookings Fr. Larry Ort I Samuel 15.34-16.13; Psalm 20; 2 Corinthians 5.6-17; Mark 4.26-34 Last Sunday we read how the scribes from Jerusalem accused Jesus of demon possession. In response, Jesus presented a parable in which he asked, “How can Satan cast out Satan?” (Mark 3.24; NRSV). We noted how Jesus emphasized that the miracles he performed took place through the power of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, one who attributes the work

Sermon.06.06.21 St. Paul’s Episcopal – Brookings Fr. Larry Ort 1 Samuel 8.4-20, 11.14-15; Psalm 138; 2 Corinthians 4.13-5.1; Mark 3.20-35 Today’s gospel wraps a story within a story. Jesus’ message and actions in the vicinity of Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee were creating quite a stir! Mark 3.8 says, “Hearing all that Jesus was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon” (NRSV). Our readin