Neli ML

  Third Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 8, June 29, 2025 Luke 9,51-62 Rev. Neli Miranda   Last Sunday, our journey with Jesus took us to the region of the Gerasenes, a land across the sea from Galilee. In crossing over, Jesus revealed to us realities beyond our familiar boundaries, reminding us that many people are in need of liberation and the Good News. Today, Jesus again calls us to move forward, inviting us to travel with him on the long road to Jerusalem. This marks the beginning of a major section in Luke’s Gospel—a rich journey of learning and growth in our discipleship. As we read this story from our post-Resurrection perspective, we know that the ultimate end of this path is not the cross, but Jesus’ victory over death. Starting today, we are on the way, walking with Jesus who has determined to bring his mission to its pivotal destination, traveling from Galilee, through Samaria, to Jerusalem—the city that encompassed the religious and political heart of Israel...

  Holy Trinity Sunday 2025 John 16:12-15 Rev. Neli Miranda   On Pentecost Sunday we experienced a re-creation when we received the visitation of the Holy Spirit. Also, we were reminded that we are a living community in the world empowered to continue Jesus’ mission of proclaiming the Kingdom of God in all languages, particularly in God’s language. Following the great feast of Pentecost, the glorious culmination of Easter Season, we now enter a new period of growth in our Christian spirituality, a season often called Ordinary Time or the Season after Pentecost. However, before we continue our journey, the Church invites us today to celebrate one of the fundamental Christian beliefs: The Holy Trinity. Throughout our journey with Jesus, we have learned that God is not a solitary, isolated, distant being, but a community, a divine family.   In the New Testament we do not find the term “Trinity”, but in the Gospels we find Jesus speaking of God using familial language,...

  Pentecost Day, June 8, 2025 Genesis, Acts 2,1-21; Genesis 11, 1-9 and John 14,8-17 Revd. Neli Miranda   Shavuot, one of the principal pilgrimage festivals of ancient Israel was celebrated fifty days after Passover and from which the Greek name Pentecost (meaning "fiftieth") is derived. Originally, this festival marked the culmination of the barley harvest and the beginning of the wheat harvest, a festival of first fruits. In rabbinic tradition, Shavuot also commemorates the day when God gave the Torah (the Law) to the people of Israel on Mount Sinai. In Jesus’ time, this celebration attracted many pilgrims to Jerusalem, including Jews born outside Israel and proselytes , who were gentiles that had embraced the Jewish faith Today’s second reading taken from Acts Chapter 2 unfolds in Jerusalem during the festival of Shavuot or Pentecost. Following Jesus’ ascension, the community of disciples had remained in Jerusalem, just as Jesus had commanded them. So, during t...

  Seventh Sunday of Easter 2025 John 17:20-26 Revd. Neli Miranda     This past Thursday, we celebrated the Feast of the Ascension when Jesus, having conquered death, returned victorious to God His Father. Today, the Seventh Sunday of Easter, serves as a bridge between the Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost Sunday when we receive the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus. Jesus has ascended to the Father; but first, he has recreated us and commissioned us to continue the proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Throughout these past weeks, the risen Jesus has been in our midst reminding us that we are a community of life, love, service, reconciliation, and restoration in the world. As our primary Advocate, Jesus has been at our side to comfort, counsel, and prepare us for the trials we face. He has also promised us the coming of another Advocate, the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, in a calm voice, Jesus has left us these words: “Peace I leave with you; my peace...