“Holy interruptions”
December 20, 2020
(Minister – Rev. Caesar J. David | Union Park United Methodist Church)
Note: December 20th service is A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. Please
see full service on Facebook or YouTube.
Scripture Lessons:
1. Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19
2. Genesis 22:15-18
3. Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
4. Micah 5:2-5a
5. Luke 1:26-35, 38
6. Luke 2:1-7
7. Luke 2:8-16
8. Matthew 2:1-11
9. John 1:1-14
One of the things to note as we heard the Christmas story (told to us through
selected Scripture lessons and carols in this service) is that the birth of Jesus Christ
was according to a beautiful plan of God. A long standing prophecy of a promised
Messiah to save us, came true. That was God’s plan for Salvation of mankind. Mary
was the chosen one to bear Jesus Christ in her womb as the Word was made flesh.
Mary, a young girl of 14 or 15 could not be expected to understand the theology
and the spirituality of all this. From her perspective, she was rightly ‘perplexed’
(Luke 1:29) because this was an INTERRUPTION in her otherwise normal life. She was pledged to be married and as a young girl she must have been looking forward
to all the usual things of a happy marriage and setting up her new home.
We look to the Christmas season to be a time of perfect peace, harmony, and joy.
The first Christmas was not that way. It could have been seen as an interruption.
We all know interruptions too: This year, our lives have been interrupted because of
this pandemic. When we think of the things we couldn’t do as a Church and also as
individuals, we tend to feel discouraged. Our plans sometimes get messed up and
that can confuse us. Right now, at Christmas, it’s supposed to be “the most
wonderful time of the year”, but for many it is very difficult because something has
interrupted the joy. It may be sickness, death of a loved one, financial setbacks,
divorce, or loneliness, or any of those things that thwart our plans.
What was Mary’s response to the interruption in her life when the angel announced
to her that she is the chosen one and she will bear a child who is the Messiah? At
first, naturally, she was perplexed. But the angel said to her: “Do not be
afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God”. The Angel also explains to Mary that
“No Word from God will ever fail” (Luke 1:37). It is then that Mary is able to accept
this as a Holy Interruption and say 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered.
“May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38). She had a holy response to the
holy interruption in her life.
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Mary’s response is like this:
I’m scared
I’m confused
I don’t know what will happen
I don’t know how it will happen
But it’s from God
God’s Will be done
I will submit
I will obey
Mary submitted herself to be used to accomplish God’s purposes and as God’s plans
proceeded, we have Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. There is
hope for all mankind (humankind). Mary accepted the Holy interruption and she
offered a Holy response to it.
As the theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in “Life Together”: We must be ready
to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.
That’s right. God may interrupt us to use those moments to fulfil His plan
to bless other people,
to put me on the path of more blessing,
to teach me something special,
to give me rest,
to strengthen my faith,
to help me see the beauty of His creation,
to help me understand how His Grace works,
to show me what’s around me – other people,
to humble me,
to break me,
to shape me,
to mold me,
to use me.
Sometimes it is in those moments of interruptions, in those special instances that
we may perhaps not understand completely just then, God reveals Himself in ways
we may never be experience otherwise!
Let’s pray for wisdom to see and try to understand those special moments when
God may choose to interrupt our life and our plans. Let’s seek His Strength and
Grace so that we can submit to His Plan more eagerly / readily. Thank God for Holy
Interruptions!
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