About 30 years ago, my wife and I lived about 2-1/2 hours away from my parents. During early trips with our four children to visit my parents, my motherís hospitality was like that of Marthaóshe was always in the kitchen. I visited with my stepfather in the living room while wishing my mother were there to join in the conversation. To talk with her, I had to go into the kitchen.

As the years went by, her hospitality changed. Our best trips were when my mother talked with us when we arrived, then went to pick up Kentucky Fried Chicken for dinner, and visited with us afterwards. Gradually, my family got more time to feast upon her words.

In todayís Gospel, Martha is busy in the kitchen because she had invited Jesus and his disciples. Since there were at least 15 people, Martha must have started cooking in the kitchen right away. Her hospitality was an active, but complaining one. It might have been better spent first listening to Jesus, like Mary did. Jesus must have been hungry, but he needed conversation more than any thing else because he "was on the way" to Jerusalem to be crucified.

Through his conversations with Mary and Martha, Jesus is teaching his disciples that those who minister among Godís people must be informed and supported by an active listening to his words.

Before we can become authentic disciples, we must first learn to be hospitable hosts and hostesses, welcoming into our hearts and attending to the good news of salvation. We are not called to be either Mary or Martha; we are called to be both Mary and Martha.

Each of us must balance how we serve Jesus. We must first listen to the Master before we can know what we are called to do and how to do it.

 I donít know about the rest of you, but itís easier for me to be in action than to listen. I like doing things. And when I am doing them, Iím in control. Well, at least I think I am.

But, I also know that I need balance in my lifeóeach day I have to spend time with God getting refueled. Then I let God be more in control. I try to comprehend what he wants from me. My present plan for doing this is spending time in prayer, reading scripture, going to Mass, and listening to others and sharing my faith journey with them.

Everyone must plan to have quiet time with God. We must pray alone so that we can ascertain what God wants from us! We can pray when we go to bed at night and again when we wake up in the morning. We might get up earlier than normal and spend time with God before the rest of our family distracts us. This time might be spent before the Blessed Sacrament where it is very quiet.

What will we hear during this time with God? We would all like a sign from God. An E-mail would be great! But, spending time with God doesnít result with anything written like a letter, but it does result with God writing in our hearts. We find our consciences telling us what God is calling us to do.

Both Mary and Martha are teaching us that following Jesus and serving him will require frequent spiritual refueling. Service that is not so supported can become cranky and resentful, as is illustrated in Marthaís complaint to Jesus about Mary.

Without the "fuel" of prayer, silence, and communion with God, service can become
o a crushing responsibility
o a burden rather than a vocation
o an annoyed grumbling, rather than a response to the invitation of God.

God is the hunter and we are the hunted. When we spend time with God, we learn what he wants us to do, like Mary. Then we will be ready for action, like Martha.