All Past Reflections

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany"Complicated Blessings" — Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Micah 6:6-8/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Matthew 5:1-12/NRSVUE) Living in Salt Lake City and having to drive way more than I’d like to, means that I also sit in traffic way more than...

Second Sunday after the Epiphany"See, Learn, Do" - Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Isaiah 49:1-7, NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (John 1:29-42, NRSVUE) I love old books, so I spend a lot of time wandering around Salt Lake City’s wonderful used bookstores. I especially enjoy...

Baptism of Christ"Up from the Water" - Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Acts 10:34-43/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Matthew 3:13-17/NRSVUE) As I’m sure you all know, the church has many rituals — things we do, songs we sing, words we say — and each of these practices...

Second Sunday after ChristmasEpiphany - Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Isaiah 60:1-6/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Matthew 2:1-12/NRSVUE) One Christmas Eve when I was in elementary school we went over to my grandparents’ house, as was our family custom. This was an event...

First Sunday after Christmas"Let Fear Fuel a Fire for Justice" Scripture Reading - Matthew 2:1-23 I know what you’re thinking — believe me, I know because I was thinking the very same thing. Today’s reading from Matthew’s Gospel, which tells us about the Holy...

Third Sunday in Advent"Joy" — Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Jeremiah 1:4-10/CEB)Gospel Reading (Luke 1:26-39/NRSVUE) I remember the day like it was yesterday, even though it was actually thirteen years ago today. I was with some coworkers having lunch at a...

First Sunday in Advent"Hope" — Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Lamentations 3:55-57/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Luke 1:5-13/CEB) Technology allows us to keep track of all sorts of things these days and so I’m happy to report, since I save everything I write, that this is...

Reign of Christ Sunday"The Days Are Surely Coming" — Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Jeremiah 23:1-6/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Luke 23:33-43/NRSVUE) For the past few weeks, I’ve been waking up way too early — and by that I mean before five am (that’s been fun). But...

Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost"This is the Good News?" — Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Isaiah 12/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Luke 21:5-19/NRSVUE) This is the good news. And I really mean that. I’ve uttered this five-word phrase at the conclusion of every...

Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost"The Spendor of This House" — Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Haggai 1:15b-2:9/NRSVUE) Gospel Reading (Luke 20:27-38/NRSVUE) Our first reading today came from the book of Haggai. So, who the heck is this guy, Haggai? Isn’t he the...