Daily Gospel Reflection
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October 10, 2023
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.”
Sometimes I claim to be “busy as a bee.” As a working mother with two teenage children, days can be spent buzzing around between work obligations and family activities. Some days, I even count the number of times I drive in and out of the driveway, heading to and fro through a daily calendar filled from the moment my eyes open until I lay my head on the pillow at night. We all know that every walk of life can sometimes feel hectic and overwhelming.
However, reflecting on today’s gospel, I have realized that being “too busy” is a myth. The truth? We make time for the things that are most important to us. Do we take time out of the hustle and bustle of our daily lives to prioritize God?
In today’s reading, Martha feels “busy as a bee” welcoming guests into her home. She is attempting to measure her worthiness by being the penultimate host. Meanwhile, Mary is taking a different approach, being with Jesus. She is prioritizing her time to slow down, be still, and fully engage in her interactions with Jesus.
A dear family member and priest shared the story of a student praying and hoping for the Holy Spirit to provide guidance. The student looked up at the sky and suggested that perhaps God talk louder. The response that the student received in reply was that they needed to listen better.
When our days feel hectic, too full, and busy, perhaps we can remind ourselves that we are never too busy for God. Like Mary, let’s try and make time to listen for God’s voice. What we hear may be as sweet as honey.
Prayer
Good and gracious God, your Word opens our minds and hearts. Each day we strive to live your Word. Help us to listen to your Son, to trust in his healing power. Never abandon us in times of suffering and loss. Bring us your comfort and assurance. Like Mary, may we turn to your Son in our time of need, and find comfort in his presence. We ask this in his name. Amen.
Saint of the Day

Francis Borgia was a member of the ruling elite of Spain, and when he became a Jesuit priest, he used his experience as a governor to spread the work of the Jesuits around the world; he became known as their second founder, after the great St. Ignatius.
He was born in 1510 in Spain,the great-grandson of a pope and a king, and cousin to the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the time. After completing his education, he lived in the Spanish court, where one day he happened to see a man being taken into prison by the Spanish Inquisition. The man was St. Ignatius of Loyola and he was being questioned about his new movement.
Francis married and raised a family and was assigned duties as a governor of Catalonia. He tended to the affairs of the state with diligence, but also began to give more and more time and energy to prayer; he received communion as often as he could.
After 17 years of marriage, Francis’ wife, Eleanor, died, leaving him with eight children, the youngest of whom was 8 years old. The death of his wife spurred him to follow the calling he had been discerning to give his life to God. He recalled the man he had seen imprisoned, and vowed to join his Society of Jesus. Ignatius received the news with joy, but advised him to finish raising his children first, and to bring his executive business to a close.
After several years, having settled his children, Francis joined Ignatius in Rome and became a Jesuit at the age of 40. During his formation, his superiors made a point to treat him opposite to what he was used to—they made him clean the kitchen and serve food and mop floors. He returned to Spain, and was ordained a priest. News of the duke who turned into a Jesuit made a sensation, and people crowded to his Masses.
He began to preach in Spain and Portugal, carrying a bell and calling children to the town square wherever he was to teach them the faith. His words encouraged many to reform their lives and their businesses, and he was one of the first to meet and encourage the great St. Teresa of Avila.
St. Ignatius placed Francis in charge of the Jesuit order in Spain, where he founded new communities and colleges. He was later called back to Rome to assist the growing community from there, and has been called the second founder of the Jesuits for his influence in shaping the new order. Even though it is credited to the pope, it was Francis Borgia who really founded the famous Gregorian University in Rome.
His previous life as a governor gave him skills that he used to establish and promote the work of Jesuits around the world. In all of this logistical work, however, he never got distracted from his life of prayer and faithfulness—those always remained central to him. He sought after humility with diligence—many knew him as a royal personage, and tried to show him deference, but he insisted on being treated according to his state of life as a priest.
Worn out by his work and travels, he died in 1572. His relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica, and the image below was created by Matthew Alderman '06 and is used here with his permission. It shows St. Ignatius in the center, flanked by St. Francis Xavier on the left and St. Francis Borgia on the right.

St. Francis Borgia, you were the duke and father of 8 children who became a Jesuit—pray for us!
Image Credit: (1) Our featured image of St. Francis Borgia is in the public domain. Last accessed October 3, 2024 on Wikimedia Commons. (2) Notre Dame alumnus Matthew Alderman holds exclusive rights to the further distribution and publication of his art. Used here with permission.