Neli ML

Fifth Sunday of Easter 2025 John 13,31-35 Rev. Neli Miranda   Following our recent celebration of Good Shepherd Sunday, we now turn to Jesus’ farewell discourse, a touching section of John’s Gospel that anticipates the upcoming celebration of Jesus’ Ascension and Pentecost Sunday. John’s Gospel dedicates a significant portion, chapters 13-17, to this intimate exchange between Jesus and his community of disciples. Here, embodying the roles of teacher, shepherd, and friend, Jesus comforts his disciples and instructs them on how to live as a community in the world upon his departure. His central teaching is about love! Today’s passage, John 13:31-35, is situated in the context of the Last Supper. It is here, after a profound act of service and in the shadow of betrayal, that Jesus tells his disciples, “. . .   Love one another, just as I have loved you. . .” This commandment is given to a community of disciples whom Jesus loves deeply. In the preceding verses (13:1-17)...

Third Sunday of Easter 2025 John 20:1- 19 Rev. Neli Miranda Last Sunday we heard the powerful conclusion of John the Evangelist’s Gospel, a testimony of the Risen Jesus’ manifestation to Mary Magdalene and those disciples who, though initially hidden in fear, were ultimately sent on the mission of reconciling and restoring the broken world. John, in bringing his Gospel to a close, declares, “ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name” (20:30-31).   Today we find that there is a Chapter 21, which appears to be a deliberate addition by the Johannine community to John’s account. This chapter preserves treasured memories of the early Christian community and highlights the roles of key figures within it. More importantly, it reaffirms the active and continuing...