The Virtue of Hospitality

One of the themes that is often forgotten when we discuss the Gospel scene of Martha and Mary at their home with Jesus is the virtue of hospitality. This is brought home by the fact that the Church pairs this Gospel with the first reading from Genesis, where Abraham and Sarah show hospitality to God Himself, appearing as three men. In another place in the Gospel, Jesus says, "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me!" May we all value and grow in this virtue of hospitality, by which we can welcome others (and, by implication, God) into our homes and, more importantly, hearts.