Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 21, 2019
Jesus entered a village
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”
There are so many women in the Gospels that I yearn to relate to. Mother Mary, the Mary in this story, or Mary’s cousin Elizabeth. However, there is no woman that I actually relate to better than Martha. I feel if I had lived in Jesus’ time and been blessed enough to have known Jesus, this story could have swapped the name “Betsy” for Martha.
I am often frustrated with my husband and others as they sit and enjoy gatherings and visitors. Don’t they see that there is so much that needs to be done? If we just sit here and play with the kids or linger over a long meal when will the chores, planning, and cooking get done? Like Martha, I spend these gatherings “anxious and worried about many things.”
Each thing will get done though. Maybe not in the way I would like, but I am learning I need to let go and slow down and savor each moment. I cannot sit at Jesus’ physical feet in the way Mary could, however, I can get down on the floor and play with my little boys or sit and reconnect with friends and family. In the long run, we most likely won’t remember many of the details or chores I often fret about, but I and my loved ones will remember how being truly present to one another makes us feel. We all have a choice about how to spend our time. My prayer for me and my fellow Marthas is that we focus today less on immediate worries and more on choosing the better part which will not be taken from us.
Prayer
God of mercy, you alone know our deepest hunger and longing. Fill us with your grace and grant us your lasting peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Lawrence of Brindisi had a brilliant mind and used his influence to build the kingdom of God in both the secular and sacred spheres of his day.
He was born in Brindisi in the kingdom of Naples in 1559, and given the name Cesare de Rossi. He was educated by Franciscans, and furthered his studies in Venice. He decided to follow his teachers, and became a Capuchin Franciscan priest, taking the name Lawrence.
He had a near perfect recall of Scripture, and learned Greek, Hebrew, German, Bohemian, French, and Spanish. Lawrence’s preaching was noticed by many, and he was entrusted with more responsibilities. Soon he was given tasks by both the pope and the emperor that took him through Italy and Germany, where he founded new monasteries and developed the Church.
In one case, Lawrence even led the army. The emperor sent Lawrence to help the German princes repel Turkish forces threatening Hungary. Lawrence was appointed chaplain of the forces; known for his wisdom, the generals asked his advice when they faced a confrontation with the enemy. Lawrence advised attacking, and even rode before the army carrying a crucifix. The Turks were soundly defeated, and the victory was attributed to Lawrence’s assistance and example.
Lawrence continued to assist rulers of his age as a messenger and diplomat, and used his influence to improve governance and promote peace. He was worn out from all of his labors and travel, and died in 1619. When his life and writings were reviewed in his cause for canonization, it was declared that he was to be honored as a doctor of the Church. Most of his writings were sermons, which stood out for teaching the faith so well.
Relics of St. Lawrence of Brindisi rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Lawrence of Brindisi, you were the diplomat who used your mind and heart to build the kingdom of God—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Lawrence of Brindisi is in the public domain. Last accessed March 20, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
