1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23 / Mark 16:15-20
Today the Church celebrates the feast of St Francis Xavier, the Co-patron of India and of all missions and missionaries all over the world.
As a young man of nobility, he obtained a good education and had a successful academic career before him. But being persuaded by and drawn to St Ignatius of Loyola who continuously admonished him, “What does it profit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul,” he became one among the first group of Jesuits. Thus, Francis found the treasure of great value in Christ and his mission. As a young Jesuit, he sailed to India, and later to Malacca and Japan, and preached the good news of Christ, and reaped an abundance of spiritual harvest. He had found that the harvest was plentiful and there was a need for more laborers. In his passion for spreading the gospel, in his simple obedience, in his humble disregard for himself, he was a near-perfect imitation of Christ. St Francis Xavier ranks among the greatest missionaries in Christian history.***
St. Francis Xavier was born in Navarre, Spain, 1506. St. Francis Xavier was a student of St. Ignatius of Loyola, and he was the co-founder of the Society of Jesus and one of the first seven Jesuits who were formed in 1534. He led an extensive mission into Asia and he was influential in the spreading of the faith especially in India.
He even ventured as far as China but he was only able to reach what is now Hong Kong. In fact, he died there on the 3rd December 1552. Along the way, he also converted many people in India, especially Goa, and also in Indonesia and Japan. He is said to have converted more people than anyone else has done since St. Paul. For this reason, he is the patron saint of the missions, together with St. Therese of the Child Jesus.
And like St. Paul, St. Francis Xavier also considered preaching the Good News not just as a duty but also as a blessing. Like what St. Paul said in the 1st reading, he made himself as a slave to everyone so as to win as many for God as he could. Like St. Paul, St. Francis Xavier also made himself all things to all men in order to save some at any cost. Like St. Paul, St. Francis Xavier left behind a legacy of missionary work and spirit that formed the blueprint and foundations of the Catholic faith in the countries.
As the Lord Jesus promised, He worked with St. Francis Xavier and confirmed with His word with signs. We have seen these signs, and may we continue to see these signs so that we in turn will proclaim the Good News like St. Francis Xavier did.
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Readings:
The context: Today’s Gospel describes Jesus’ miraculous healing of two blind men who approached him with trusting Faith. Blindness was common in Palestine because of the intense glare of the eastern sun, clouds of unclean flies and people’s ignorance of cleanliness and hygiene. The two blind men followed Jesus from the street all the way to the house Jesus entered, loudly expressing their confidence in the “Son of David” and requesting mercy. Jesus found in these men what was required for receiving a miracle, namely a strong and expectant Faith, an earnest desire for vision and a sincere prayer for mercy. Although they were instructed not to tell anyone of their healing, as soon as they were healed, they immediately expressed their gratitude by bearing witness to Jesus’ healing power throughout the town.
Life messages: 1) We, too, need light and eyesight because we are often blind to the needs and expectations of those around us and even living with us. We are also often blind to the presence of Jesus living in us and in others, to the blessings God showers on us and to the protection God gives us every day. Hence, let us pray for the spiritual eyesight to realize and experience the presence of Jesus in ourselves and others, and for the goodwill to do good to and for others.
