Bonhoeffer said this,
“We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and canceling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions.”
Being interrupted by God does not mean that some angel appears to you or a message from heaven falls in your lap. Being interrupted by God means kids, wife, husband, It means inconveniences, trouble, heart-ache. It means having to cancel your plans, because God has sent you someone who needs your help.
A number of hard things have found their way to the door of St. Paul’s this week. And I’m so sorry for it. My heart is heavy for you all. I’m both sad and angry. As your pastor there is something in me that would have wanted to protect you from all this or at least do something about it. And I could do nothing. But these things that have happened are the interruptions of God. And when God interrupts, it comes in the form of people asking for help and time.
So, let me say this: you all have answered the interruption. You have supported each other, cared for each other; prayed, called, and loved each other.
St. Paul’s!!! Can you hear me?!?! What a family! What a church! What a testimony to the Gospel!
You see it? Jesus was willing to be interrupted by our claims and petitions. And he will always be willing to be interrupted! He stops what he’s doing for us! The God of Creation pauses to hear you out. And when hearing wasn’t enough, he came in the flesh. God embraces interruption! And so, in us embracing it, we are a witness to the Gospel!
You have said, “My brothers and sisters are more important than me.” That’s the Gospel! That’s it! Be the Body of Christ by dying to self for the sake of our neighbor!
I am filled with hope and love for you St Paul’s. God has been very demanding this week. I understand. But you have not shied away from the call. And the call was to love each other as Christ loved us.
My heart is filled with so much pride! So grateful to live life with you!
May the God of Heaven, who raises the dead and heals the sick and comforts the broken, may he be pleased with our little church.
Tom+