All Past Reflections

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...

Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost"Word Matter" — Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4/CEB) Gospel Reading (Luke 19:1-10/NRSVUE) My job as a pastor involves a awful lot of writing (reflections, letters for the monthly edition of Tidings, and a...

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost"Humbled and Exalted" — Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Psalm 84:1-7, NRSVUE) Gospel Reading (Luke 18:9-14, NRSVUE) Way back in medieval times, when I was in high school, the State of New Jersey required students to take nine weeks of...

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost"Gratitude" — Rev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (2 Timothy 2:8-15/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Luke 17:11-19/NRSVUE) I’ll admit it: I enjoy a caffeinated beverage every now and again (as the thirty-two ounce iced coffee sitting on my desk...