Interrupted
An Advent Word from Wiese
December 17, 2025
Interruptions. Advent is a season of watching and waiting. But rarely does all go according to plan.
If we’re honest, interruptions are usually what we try hardest to avoid. And yet, when we turn to the Christmas story, we discover characters pinballing from one interruption to the other.
Mary’s life was interrupted by an angel. She was not seeking a divine encounter when Gabriel appeared and announced a future she had not imagined. “Do not be afraid, Mary,” the angel said, “for you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30). Her response was not denial or outrage, but openness to this life detour: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
Joseph, too, was interrupted, this time in the middle of heartbreak and confusion. Planning to end his engagement quietly after being rocked at Mary’s risqué news, he fell asleep burdened by uncertainty. Then God interrupted him in a dream: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife” (Matthew 1:20). What seemed like a disruption to his life and reputation became his new pathway of purpose. Joseph awoke and did “as the angel of the Lord commanded him” (Matthew 1:24).
If I was a betting man, I’d put some money on the probability that most of you will have your holiday plans interrupted, somehow.
Recipes will fail. Amazon gift orders won’t make it in time. Flights will be delayed or canceled. Family members may arrive late. The furnace may break. Someone may need our help when we feel we have no margin left to give.
When those moments come, our instinct may be frustration or anxiety. But this Advent, what if we asked if God was up to something special in the interruptions? What if, instead of becoming angry or frazzled, we thanked God for the unexpected? What if we recognized these moments as invitations, or opportunities to practice the faith of Mary and Joseph?
Their stories remind us that God often shows up not in the smooth execution of our plans, but in the disruption of them. May your interruptions become intersections with the Spirit, for insight, surprise, and growth in faith.
In Christ’s hope,
Pastor Fritz
Let us pray:
Lord, when our plans unravel, may we see cords connecting to you. Help us to trust that you are present in the unexpected. Make us attentive to the grace and quiet wonder you may be placing before us. Like Mary and Joseph, give us courage to say yes, even when the path looks different than we imagined. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions for Reflection:
- Mary and Joseph both said “yes” to God in moments of fear and uncertainty. What fears or hesitations arise in you when your plans are disrupted?
- During this Advent and Christmas season, what practices or attitudes might help you remain open to noticing God’s presence in unexpected delays, detours, or requests for help?