In today's short gospel reading we have a lesson on hospitality. Jesus chooses to visit His friends Martha and Mary where He knows He will be welcomed. Yet during this visit we see Jesus' concern for Martha. The busyness of her life and her overwhelming sense of duty to serve others, leaves her exhausted and blaming her sister for not helping her with her duties. Yet Jesus praises the part that Mary plays. She is the listener, the one who is attentive to Jesus. She is the one also who receives from Jesus and learns from Him.

More than anything else the feeling of being listened to offers a place of solace, a place where a person can pour out his/her story and feel accepted and understood.

Today for most of us life is hectic and the busyness of life often keeps us from being attentive to God, to the people we meet, perhaps even to our own families and children. Yet this is what most people are longing for - a listening ear. All of us I'm sure have the experience of really being listened to and we know what this means to us.

As we reflect on this reading today let us look at Martha and Mary and ask ourselves which of the two we can most identify with. What is Jesus inviting me to today?