All Past Reflections

Sixth Sunday after EpiphanyBlessed Are ThoseRev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Jeremiah 17:5-10/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Luke 6:17-26/NRSVUE) I have a confession to make: many years ago, back in the early days of the show, I used to watch American Idol. My favorite part...

Fifth Sunday after EpiphanyFishingRev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Isaiah 6:1-13/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Luke 5:1-11/NRSVUE) I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: all of those dates and names of people and places in the Bible (you know, “in the year that King...

Fourth Sunday after EpiphanyTruth to PowerRev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (First Corinthians 13:1-13/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Luke 4:21-30/NRSVUE) I’m not naive enough to believe that you’ll agree with or appreciate or like everything I have to say, but can you at...

Third Sunday after EpiphanyConnectionsRev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (First Corinthians 12:12-3a/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Luke 4:14-21/NRSVUE) In my younger days, I was a reasonably serious runner. I wasn’t terribly fast, mind you, but I was disciplined about actually...

Second Sunday after EpiphanyGiftsRev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (1 Corinthians 12:1-11/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (John 2:1-11/NRSVUE) As you might imagine, during my time as a pastor, I’ve had the privilege of officiating a few weddings. While I might not have done as...

First Sunday after EpiphanyThe Baptism of ChristRev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Isaiah 60:1-6, NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Matthew 2:1-12, NRSVUE) One autumn a few years ago I got in the habit of eating a salad a couple of days a week for lunch. I wish I could say that...

Second Sunday of ChristmastideThe EpiphanyRev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Isaiah 60:1-6, NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Matthew 2:1-12, NRSVUE) The Chiesa del Gesù, the Church of Jesus, is located in the center of Rome. Founded in the mid-16th century, it is the home of the...

Fourth Sunday in AdventLoveRev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Micah 5:2-5a/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Luke 1:39-55/NRSVUE) I will freely admit that I’m a lousy cook. And the biggest reason for this is that I’m kind of impatient, and always have been; I just don't do idle...

Second Sunday in AdventPeaceRev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Malachi 3:1-4/NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Luke 3:1-6/NRSVUE I see all sorts of things from up here — and one of them was your eyes glazing over as you listened to all those names of obscure people and places in...

First Sunday in Advent"Hope"Communion SundayRev. Brent Gundlah First Reading (Jeremiah 33:14-16 / NRSVUE)Gospel Reading (Luke 21:25-36/NRSVUE For our entire childhoods, my sister and I were the only grandkids on my Mom’s side of the family which meant that, at...