Multi-tasking in Judea – Luke 2:1-7

A text – Luke 2:1-7

2:1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.

2:2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

2:3 All went to their own towns to be registered.

2:4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

2:5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.

2:6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.

2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

A reflection:

Humans are generally good at multi-tasking, probably because we get so much practice at it. Many of us live out multiple roles in our families and our work life simultaneously, any one of which could require us to deal with a crisis at any moment. If you are aged 50-75, you may be a member of the “sandwich” generation that sees to the needs of an aging parent or older relative or friend while caring for your children and even their children.

Mary and Joseph were multi-taskers, too, even though they lived in a simpler time. Mary had gone in haste to the hill country to be with her much older cousin Elizabeth. Perhaps she went in haste because Mary herself was pregnant and unwed, and one did not show oneself around one’s village in that state. And Elizabeth, in her faraway town and at her advanced age and also pregnant, may have needed help. In exchange, she could also show Mary what was about to happen to her and prepare her for her own child’s birth. Mary had perhaps just returned to her home from Elizabeth’s, or more likely Joseph went to the hills to get her, when the time came for them to take part in the Roman census. The two of them headed for Bethlehem. A lot was happening. The couple was rolling along, managing to keep up with everything. But just as they arrived in Bethlehem, Mary had one more task pop up on her list of things to do, a task which all mothers know requires you to drop everything else, stop, and have a baby.

As human beings, especially if we are caught between generations and if we are healthy enough to care for others, we will always be trying to do many things at the same time. If we are to give ourselves time to pray, to experience our faith and sit or stand in the presence of our God, we will need to choose intentionally to set aside some time for what is important, not just urgent. We will need time to focus on keeping The Main Thing the main thing. Maybe just once a day. But for sure, once a day.

So we multi-task. But we also focus. For just a minute each day, let us drop everything else and tell God we are paying attention to the greatness of God and the world that God loves, seeing it through the eyes of people who know they are God’s beloved children. For just a moment or two. Every day. For just a moment we will taste and see that the Lord is good.

A prayer:

Gracious God of light and life, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for giving us this big and beautiful world that you love. Thanks you for giving us so many meaningful tasks. Help us to take moments here and there to appreciate it all and praise you. Amen.