Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.  She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.  But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.”  But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

POINTERS FOR PRAYER

1. The two sisters symbolise the contemplative and active dimensions of life, at times difficult to balance. What wisdom have you learned through life experiences on how to strike a balance between prayer and action?

2. Many people misunderstand hospitality. They worry and fret about decorating the house and preparing abundant food. Yet sometimes it is something else that is needed to make people feel at home, namely, to sit with guests and to listen to them speaking. What has been your experience of being a cherished guest and when have you been able to make others feel welcome and at home?

3. We can make the same mistake in relation to people who are important to us in life: children, friends, parents, or others. We can worry and fret about doing things for them when perhaps the important thing is to give them time and to listen to them. What does your experience tell you?

4. When it comes to welcoming God into our lives, one appropriate response is to give time listening to God’s word. When have you found time devoted to the word of God enriching for you?

Luke knows that hospitality, especially perhaps in the Middle East — has a practical side — unless someone prepares and prepares well, the guest will feel not quite welcomed. On the other hand, if the welcome stops at the level of the material expression of hospitality, at the formal and so to speak external levels, then the welcome will have fallen short. Luke also knows that it is the encounter which counts so that when you meet someone you really do meet the person. When that happens, then both host and guest will be truly refreshed. So the contrast is not so much between two ways of being but rather a contrast between an incomplete and a complete welcome. The ultimate goal is not simply to serve the guest but to attend to the guest fully as a whole person, to connect, as we say today.