Neli ML

  Third Sunday in Lent 2025 Luke 13:1-9 Rev. Neli Miranda On the Third Sunday of Lent, we continue our journey with Jesus toward Jerusalem. This is a journey rich in learning, transformation, and growth, for, as Luke tells us, as Jesus made his way to Jerusalem, he continued teaching and challenging the oppressive religious system that in collusion with the political system perpetuated injustice in Israel. In today’s passage we read of an incident where, as Jesus was teaching, some in the crowd informed him about some anti-Rome Galileans murdered by Pilate—the Roman governor—in the temple. These Galileans, it seems, were offering sacrifices when Pilate violently ordered their deaths, mingling their blood with that of their sacrifices.   Jesus’ response suggests that those giving him this violent news, based on a retributive justice system—the belief that suffering is punishment for sin—assumed that these Galileans deserved this punishment. Known for their resistance aga...

                                                           Second Sunday in Lent 2025 Luke 13:31-35 Rev. Neli Miranda https://www.chickensforbackyards.com/what-you-should-know-about-mother-hens/   Following his baptism in Judea, Jesus returned to Galilee, where he has carried out most of his ministry. He now journeys towards Jerusalem as Luke has indicated in earlier passages: “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem” (9:51). Luke describes Jesus traveling through towns and villages, proclaiming the Kingdom of God as he makes his way to Jerusalem. Today we read that, while Jesus teaches, some Pharisees warn him of Herod’s murderous intent: “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you” (13,31). This is Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, a Roman puppet king who feels threat...

First Sunday in Lent March 9, 2025 Luke 4:1-13 Rev. Neli ML   The first Sunday in Lent directs us to the wilderness, where Jesus confronts evil forces before beginning his proclamation of the Kingdom of God. According to Luke, as Jesus commits to God in his baptism, he faces evil forces opposing to his ministry:   A fter his baptism, Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil (4,1). Jesus responds to the devil’s temptations with quotes from Deuteronomy Chapters 6-8, which recount the Israelites’ experiences in the wilderness. Just as the Israelites faced temptations in the Sinai desert when they committed themselves to be the people of God, Jesus also faces similar temptations. Unlike the Israelites, Jesus triumphs over these temptations, resisting the forces of evil and teaching us how to remain faithful to God in our time. The Devil ( Diabolou in Greek), is...