Today’s readings set before us two stories of hospitality.  Abraham welcomes three strangers and insists on providing them with a meal.  In reality he is welcoming God himself in the form of three angels and God will bless him and Sarah with the child they long for.  Rublev’s famous icon of the Holy Trinity depicts this truth.  The three angels represent the Trinity gathered round a table on which is the bread and chalice for the Eucharist – in the background the oak of Mamre.  In the Gospel Martha and Mary welcome Jesus to their home.  Martha busies herself providing for their needs while Mary sits at the Lord’s feet listening to him.  Martha’s hard work is well intentioned but her focus is on practical details rather than her guest.  Hospitality must be centred on the guest (hospes in Latin) rather than the practical arrangements.  The same thing can happen with wedding receptions or any human celebration when we become more focussed on the setting or catering than the reason for the celebration.  What matters most is the person at the centre and listening to him or her, giving them our time and attention.  Almighty God is our guest at Mass.  Looking at it in a different way, Almighty God is the attentive host and we are the guests at his feast.  Our Lord not only listens to us but makes his home in us through Holy Communion.