Unencumbered at Christmas, and always

I was feeling burdened. It was Christmastime, and I felt pressure to do many things in preparation for activities and guests. As I rushed around getting jobs done, the words “cumbered about” came to me. I recognized them from a story in the Bible. 

Luke’s Gospel relates that Christ Jesus was visiting his friends Mary and her sister Martha and that “Martha was cumbered about much serving”—probably preparing food and tending to household chores. Meanwhile, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to his teaching. When Martha complained to Jesus that Mary was letting her do all the work, Jesus responded, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38–42).

As I reread this story, I realized that Jesus never said Martha’s work wasn’t important. Of course the meal had to be prepared and tasks needed to be done. But the most important thing was to humbly listen to the truths Jesus was sharing.