A distinctive mark of a Christian is hospitality.  This is shown most excellently by Abraham in the Old Testament and Martha in the New Testament.  Abraham accompanied and waited on the angelic visitors, and a blessing was given at the end, and within a year they would welcome the child of promise.  Abraham was acting of what was the custom in his culture. It was mandatory to be hospitable under threat of death.  If a person was left unattended and to fend for themselves, if something happened to them the guilt was on the person who refused hospitality.  It was necessary to give hospitality when asked for it.  But Abraham went beyond just to offer hospitality because it was mandatory but his eagerness to accommodate was shown how he quickly organized the meal.  There is a sense of excitement in the movement of Abraham, an old man at that time.  He organized his whole household to serve those who were visiting and even his wife was part of the process of providing a hearty meal to the visitors under the tree.  In the New Testament, Martha shows the same willingness to offer hospitality to Jesus and presumably his disciples. She was a master planner and organizer.  The hospitality is on par with Abraham.  In the same way she is moving about with excitement to get things done and yes, a bit anxious to present to Jesus a finished product. It seems she gets ding by Jesus by asking her to chill out for a second.  But she had the work of hospitality to do.  In no way Jesus is rejecting the act of hospitality.  But perhaps he was offering a break.  Forever she is remembered as the anxious one, the worker bee who could not relax like Mary.  Many homilists want to rescue Martha from a negative light and rightly so because in the life of the church there is more need of hospitality.  Grumpy people standing near the entrance is not hospitality! There needs to be an outreach and keep things moving.  It is true Mary in her way was also hospitable for an invited guest (in this case Jesus) needs to be attended with a good conversation, but people don't eat good words even if it's a salad word.  Without Martha Jesus would have gone without eating for the day but may have had a good conversation with Mary. Both Abraham and Martha practiced hospitality excellently.  Let us implement hospitality in the way we greet and meet people whether at home or at church.  May there be a sense of urgency and excitement and work hard to meet the needs of those who are visiting. Be hospitable to those who come from far and near because salvation truly may depend on it.