Saint Francis Xavier
MT 9:35–10:1, 5A, 6-8
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”
Then he summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
“Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Spreading the Good News
Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Francis Xavier, one of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s original companions and co-founder of the Society of Jesus. Early in the history of the Society, Ignatius was asked to send missionaries to India. After his original choice (Nicholas Bobadilla) fell ill, Ignatius made the difficult decision to send Francis Xavier, one of his closest friends, on this trip instead. Thus, almost accidentally, Xavier came to be known as one of the greatest missionaries since St. Paul, spending the remainder of his life sharing the Gospel of Jesus throughout southeast Asia.
In many ways, Xavier was simply following in the footsteps of the apostles whom Jesus sends out in today’s Gospel. They are to go out, meet people where they are, and minister to their needs. While we may not be called to leave our country, or to drive out demons, we are each called in our own way to continue this work of spreading the good news of Jesus to others.
As we continue our journey this Advent, how can I share the message of Christ, through my words or actions, with those I encounter in my daily life?
—Lauren Gaffey is the associate director of communications for the Midwest Jesuits and an associate director of Ignatian Young Adult Ministries for the Office of Ignatian Spirituality.
Prayer
Saint Francis Xavier, your indefatigable journeying to spread the Gospel inspired generations of missionaries. May your legacy of generosity and vigor continue in us as we convert others through our own witness of virtue, work, and charity for all. Amen.
—Published on MyCatholicLife © 2020