Neli ML

  Betsey Moe Sermon March 26, 2023 St. Alban Episcopal Church Antigua, Guatemala “I am the Resurrection and the Life” Ezekiel 37:1-14 Psalm 130 Romans 8:6-11 John 11:1-45 If you have been following the readings and sermons this Lenten season, you know that each week, we listened in on an encounter that Jesus had with a particular person in the gospel of John. These encounters – with Nicodemus, with the Woman at the Well, with the Man Born Blind, have been opportunities for the gospel writer to reveal more and more about Jesus and his purpose for coming into the world. Today, Jesus has an encounter with a family with whom he has a relationship: Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus. And this encounter is not like the other ones that involve long conversations and a-ha moments. This one is full of emotion and action around a man who is sick, then dies, then is raised from the dead by Jesus.   All the lectionary texts this morning call us to acknowledge a reality that lo...

  Fourth Sunday in Lent John 9,1-42 Rev. Neli Miranda   During this Lenten season the evangelist John guides us through a series of encounters with Jesus through different characters who help advance our understanding of Jesus.   In the past two weeks we have encountered Jesus through Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman.  In his conversation with them, Jesus has taught us about his mission and manifested himself as the One who reveals God to humanity. This Sunday we return to Jerusalem where we encounter Jesus through a person with physical limitations, a man born blind. In the preceding chapters we read about Jesus’ activities in Jerusalem. In chapter 8 Jesus had a discussion with the Pharisees and referred to himself as the light of the world, “ I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (8,12). This chapter ends by telling us how the level of confrontation between Jesus and his opponents has escal...

  Third Sunday in Lent. March 12, 2023 Juan 4,1-42 Rev. Neli Miranda   Last week the evangelist John told us about Nicodemus, an important and respected Jew leader who came to Jesus by night, which in the light of John’s Gospel means that he still lived in darkness, so he came to Jesus, “…the true light, which enlightens everyone…” (1,9). His being in the dark is revealed by his inability to see that Jesus was not speaking about physical rebirth but a spiritual one, from above. It seems that finally Nicodemus was not willing to accept Jesus’ call.   Today, John tells us of a woman whom we only know as the Samaritan woman, and whom many have called a prostitute based on the interpretation of Jesus’ words, “… for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband…” (4,18) . However, in contrast to Nicodemus the teacher of Israel, she comes to Jesus in the middle of the day, which reveals a striking difference between her and Nicodemus. John tells us t...

  Second Sunday in Lent, 2023            John 3,1-17        Rev. Neli Miranda   “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (3,16). This is perhaps one of the best-known Bible verses recited by Christians; however, we may be unaware that this verse is part of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus about the meaning of being born from above and understand Jesus’ message. Nicodemus is a Pharisee and also an important leader of the Jews (member of the Sanhedrin 7,50). He belongs to the upper class, is economically privileged, and well educated. He is representative of the Pharisee tradition, a moral person, pleased with his own religiosity but looking for more. He comes to Jesus by night, which may refer to the fact that Nicodemus, despite being a great teacher, still lives in darkness and needs to find the light of Jesus. In this regard, h...