Preached by Rev. Erik Kindem.
Scripture: Mark 7:24-37
Summary
When he was six years old, award winning film and stage actor James Earl Jones moved with his grandparents from rural Mississippi to rural Michigan. Soon afterward, deeply impacted by the move and the complex and at times traumatic realities that accompanied being raised by his grandparents, James Earl Jones began to stutter. And for the next eight years he withdrew into silence.
A man who stammers is brought to the attention of Jesus in today's gospel. He has a caring community that goes to bat for him. We are that caring community in today's world, agents of Jesus who connect others to his grace and compassion, who OPEN ourselves to how we can serve as his envoys among neighbors, enemies, friends.