I want to invite you, by faith, to take a trip with me. A journey through time to the days of Jesus. Imagine the scene: He walks on dusty roads, from city to city, accompanied by the disciples. Tired of the journey, he enters a village and is welcomed into the home of a woman named Martha. Mary, her sister, was also there.

While Martha is busy with many chores, Mary does something simple – and profound: she sits at Jesus’ feet to listen to His Word.

Martha, Mary, and the end-of-year portrait

This is one of the best-known stories in the Bible. And not by chance. It reveals a lot about us, especially at this time of year. At the end of the year, many people run, get agitated, and busy, but they don’t always move forward, because they get carried away by the distractions of the moment and don’t slow down to reflect on what really matters, so that next year is better.

Running like a turkey voting for Christmas is not smart.

The end of the calendar brings with it an almost inevitable agitation: appointments, shopping, trips, expectations, charges, comparisons. And, in the middle of all this, many confuse movement with progress.

Martha represents this spirit well. She wasn’t doing anything wrong. On the contrary: I wanted to serve, I wanted to be a good hostess, I wanted to do everything in the best way. The problem was not the service, but the distraction. She got lost in the lot of doing and left aside the most important thing.

Jesus went straight to the point:

“You are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed.” (Luke 10:41)

Jesus didn’t enter to receive, but to give

There is a precious detail in this story: Jesus did not enter Martha’s house to be served. He came in to give the Word. Give direction. Give life.

Martha thought she needed to offer something to Jesus, when in fact she was the one who needed to receive it. Mary understood that. Therefore, she chose the best part – and Jesus said that this part would not be taken away from her.

How many times do we do the same? We try to “do things for God”, but we don’t stop to be with God.

And this is exactly where this lesson connects with our routine – especially at this time of year. Because, just like Martha, many get lost in the rush, confusing movement with purpose.

The good agitation and the empty agitation

There is, yes, a good agitation. The one who is born from a dignified purpose, from something that really matters. When we fight for what has eternal value, the effort makes sense.

But there is also the empty agitation – the one that only occupies, distracts, and tires. It’s the rush that never ends, because work will always exist. Those who want to work always find something to do. The risk is that these chores take us away from the essentials.

And the end of the year enhances this. People run against the clock, worried about dates, appearances, parties, trips, and others’ expectations. You run so much that you often forget about Jesus precisely at the time when, symbolically, we talk about Him the most.

Stillness: a choice against the current

I wonder – and I invite you to ask yourself too – if this season would not be more fruitful as a time of stillness, and not of agitation. A time for reflection, for evaluating the paths, for adjusting attitudes, for conscious decisions for the new year.

While the world runs to impress people, Mary teaches us how to impress Heaven. She didn’t worry about judgments, nor about the pressure around her. She knew that the opportunity was unique.

And this opportunity is still available.

A personal invitation

Beware of distractions. Sometimes, the rush is so much that the person gets angry with those who don’t keep up with their pace – and even with God. Martha got to the point of wanting to give orders to Jesus. This happens when we lose simplicity.

God is simple. And only the simple can hear Him.

Therefore, my invitation is: take time to be at the feet of the Lord Jesus. Read the Bible. Pray. Go to church. Slow down the soul. Choose the best part. Because, in the midst of so much rush, faith is also knowing how to stop – and listen to God’s voice.

Watch and rethink your priorities.

If this video helped you, share it to help more people.

https://www.universal.org/renato-cardoso/post/correndo-igual-peru-em-vespera-de-natal/