Neli ML

  Proper 12. July 24, 2022 Luke 11:1-13 Rev. Neli ML Today’s Gospel brings us one of the most representative passages of the Christian faith, “The Lord´s Prayer”, which has been the prayer for excellence in Christian spirituality. Many Christian generations have prayed this prayer throughout the centuries! Matthew and Luke recorded this prayer and the beautiful memory of Jesus teaching it to his first community. Luke’s version is shorter and differs in some details from Matthew’s.   Nonetheless, they both tell us of this endearing moment when Jesus teaches his disciples to pray. In his account, Luke tells us that Jesus was praying, and when he had finished, one of his disciples asked him “Lord, teach us to pray…” (11,1).   Why would this disciple ask Jesus this when it was known that the Jews recited prayers three times a day? Maybe Jesus’ way of praying was so distinct and moving that his disciples wanted to learn his way. Thanks to this disciple, today we have...

  Proper 11, July 17, 2022 Luke 10:38-48 Rev. Neli ML   Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus were three of the most important disciples in Jesus’ ministry. They lived in Bethany, a small village two miles from Jerusalem. Through the Gospel of John we learn more about them, the great relationship they had with Jesus, and how much he loved them. In today’s Gospel we only hear about Martha and Mary. Very succinctly, Luke tells us that Jesus entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him. Despite this brief introduction, from the beginning we can perceive Martha’s great leadership and her very active personality. Luke also tells us that Martha had a sister named Mary, who from the beginning, appears seated at Jesus’ feet. However, she is not just only seated but listening to Jesus’ words.   The sisters’ different personalities made them a great duo of disciples serving Jesus. This time Martha is not enjoying Jesus’ company, and Luke tells us that...

  Proper 10. July 10, 2022 Lucas 10,25-37 Rev. Neli ML   Sisters and brothers, I would like to begin my sermon by asking you the same question Jesus asks the expert in Jewish law, what is written in the law? What do you read there? (10,26) This lawyer, expert in Jewish Law, came to Jesus to test him by asking, what must I do to inherit eternal life? (10,25).   Jesus made him respond to his own question by asking him the two key questions above. The lawyer knew the law very well and replied, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. Jesus’ response was direct and simple, Do this, and you will live (10,27,28). Given that his first question was a test, and feeling ashamed, the lawyer raised another question in an attempt to justify himself, And who is my neighbor? (10,29). Jesus responded with a great story, well known as the parable of the Good...

  Third Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 8, June 26, 2022 Luke 9,51-62 Rev. Neli ML   Last Sunday, Jesus took us to the other side, to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. In moving to the other side, Jesus showed us other realities beyond our boundaries, and we learned there are many people in need of liberation from the evil power which oppresses them, and that our proclamation must transcend our four walls. Today, once again, Jesus asks us to move forward and invites us to travel with him to Jerusalem. So, beginning today, we will be on the way, walking with Jesus who has determined to transcend his mission from Galilee, through Samaria to Jerusalem (Galilee, Samaria, and Judea conformed the region of Palestine, whose capital was Jerusalem). This will be a path filled with rich learning and growth in our discipleship. Having experienced Easter, now we know that the end of this path is not the cross but Jesus’ victory over death. Dear sisters and b...

  Proper 7, year “C”. June 19, 2022 Luke 8,26-38 Rev. Neli Miranda   After the celebration of Pentecost and Holy Trinity Sunday, today we are ready to begin a new journey with Jesus. During the coming months we are going to follow him in his proclamation of the good news, and we are going to learn from him along the way. Unlike the season of Lenten, we now walk with Jesus having experienced Easter and Pentecost and become the community of Jesus, the church that proclaims the kingdom of God in this world.   This Sunday, Jesus asks us to go across to the other side… In the preceding verses,                                                                ...

  Trinity Sunday 2022   John 16:12-15 Rev. Neli Miranda   Last Sunday, after some weeks of growth, we celebrated Pentecost, the culmination of the path of Easter. Every Easter we are renewed and strengthened by the presence of the risen Jesus, and we are also guided toward a recreation. We experience this recreation in Pentecost, when, as a community, we offer our lives before God, and God blesses us with the presence of the Holy Spirit. In Pentecost, as in the first creation, God breathes into us the breath of Life, and we become a living community among the world, ready to continue Jesus’ mission of proclaiming the Kingdom of God in all the world.   After the celebration of Pentecost, we begin a new path of growth, the season called “After Pentecost”, but first we must celebrate one of the fundamental Christian beliefs, the Holy Trinity. In our walk with Jesus, we have learned that God is not an isolated being living far removed from humanity but a being...

 Insights... A veces duelen, a veces traen una profunda tristeza, a veces dan alegría... Ahora he caído en la cuenta de que "mi mamá ya no está..."  21de junio de 2022, casi a tres meses que se fue mi mamita linda. 😢