First Sunday of Christmas 2023 John 1,1-18 Rev. Neli Miranda Jesus lying in a manger in the company of Mary and Joseph, the singing angels, the joyous shepherds, the shining star in heaven, the visit of the magi, the gifts… How we enjoy and marvel at these Christmas scenes!! However, for the first Sunday after Christmas, John does not bring us these scenes, but a great confession of faith born among the early Christians. This speaks to us about God’s most human moment, which in theological terms is known as the Incarnation (Incarnation is derived from the Latin word carnis , flesh in English which literally means enfleshment ). So, in a beautiful fusion of theology and poetry, John says that God took human form, “incarnated” in human flesh and lived among us, “ The Word [God] became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (1,14). Through this confession of faith, John bri
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Fourth Sunday of Advent Luke 1, 26-38 Rev. Neli Miranda Greetings favored one! The Lord is with you! Christmas is a grand portal that takes us into a space of good news. Here, what we think impossible becomes possible because this is a divine space, a sacred space where life is born and flourishes in unexpected ways. You cannot step into Christmas if you do not believe in Life that is born every day in the universe, if you do not believe that an angel can visit you in the midst of your daily life and bring you surprising news, if you are not willing to bear life. Thus, Christmas is for believers, for those who can see God amid daily life, for those who are willing to say “yes” to life, for those who risk bearing life! Today’s Gospel tells us about Mary of Nazareth, one of the main protagonists of the first Christmas. Through a unique story, Luke tells us how Mary entered the portal of Christmas, how she was chosen to participate in Christmas. Why Mary? Was she chosen beca
“Who Are You?” Rev. Betsey Moe St. Alban Episcopal Mission, Antigua Guatemala 17 December 2023 John 1:6-8, 19-28 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." 21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." 22 Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said. 24 Now th
Second Sunday of Advent 2023 Mark 1,1-8 Rev. Neli Miranda We are only in the second week of Advent, walking towards God’s visitation on Christmas Day; however, “commercial Christmas” has already invaded us with a lot of images: big malls, gifts, food, clothes, Santa Claus, etc. These images contrast with the images of the first Advent, two thousand years ago, when people were not invited to go shopping but to go into the wilderness, the Judean wild country, where they saw a very singular man, John the Baptist, who “was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.” His rough clothing was in strong contrast with the priestly garments and the luxurious robes of the Jewish and Roman authorities. He was dressed like the ancient prophets, especially resembling the great prophet, Elijah. John, the son of a priest (Zechariah), had renounced a priestly career in the temple of Jerusalem and decided to proclaim the word of God
First Sunday of Advent 2023 Mark 13,34-37 Rev. Neli Miranda Advent season is here and with its arrival we begin a New Christian Year, so Happy New Christian Year! Advent season opens us up to the great opportunity to renew our Christian spirituality lived in the drama of the Christian Year. This season has been observed from the first centuries of Christianity, and primordially it meant a period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas, his first coming. Later, the meaning of Advent unfolded to also include the joyful hope of Jesus’ glorious return, his second coming. The key words of Advent season are “coming”, “waiting”, and “preparation”. These meaningful words infuse us with the joy of Jesus’ coming on Christmas Day and with hope for the great future world to come. Advent leads us to the encounter with God, who visits us in a newborn, baby Jesus. And it is through a fragile newborn that we are reminded of the permanent divine presen