[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Matthew 8:5-11

Saint Francis Xavier, Priest

“Only say the word and my servant will be healed.” (Matthew 8:8)

If the heater stopped working in your home, would you call a florist to fix it? Of course not! You would look for someone who could deter­mine the problem and repair it. So where would you turn if you faced a difficult challenge in your life? You’d look for an authority who could offer real help, wouldn’t you? Well, there is One who formed you, has a plan for you, and knows you by name. And he is always eager to answer whenever you call!

The centurion was in desper­ate need. When his trusted servant became ill, he recalled the stories he had heard about Jesus’ mira­cles. Perhaps he had even witnessed some of the healings. Whatever he saw, he was sure of one thing: Jesus was a man of authority. He spoke, and his words were obeyed. Because he understood what it meant to be under authority, this soldier knew he needed to find Jesus.

Try something different in your prayer today. Before you begin telling Jesus about your needs, pro­claim what you believe about who Jesus is. Spend time pondering his authority—but not in an abstract, theoretical way. Don’t just say he is the Prince of Peace; invite him to reign over you in justice and love. Don’t just think about his death on the cross; praise him for remov­ing your guilt and shame. Don’t just announce that he has come to set us free; ask him to break chains of bondage in your life—perhaps long-standing patterns of sin or deeply entrenched attitudes of fear or cynicism.

When Jesus heard the centurion, he praised him for his faith. Not only did this man believe, he let his beliefs form and shape his prayer. Because he combined his faith with his petitions, the centurion was that much more open to Jesus’ power to heal and save. So connect your faith and your prayer. Declare that Jesus has all authority. Honor and praise him for his power and his love. Declare that he is your Savior, Wisdom, and Strength. Let him speak his word, and know that your soul will be healed.

“Jesus, I believe that you have every answer for my life. I rejoice in your authority and your compassion. You, Lord, are my greatest hope.”

Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122:1-9

[Salvation]

A Christian Pilgrim

SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER, PRIEST [1506-1552]

FEAST: 3 DECEMBER 

JESUS asked, “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Matthew 16:26a). The words were repeated to a young teacher of philosophy who had a highly promising career in academics, with success and a life of prestige and honor before him.

Francis Xavier, 24 at the time, and living and teaching in Paris, did not heed these words at once. They came from a good friend, Ignatius of Loyola, whose tireless persuasion finally won the young man to Christ. Francis then made the spiritual exercises under the direction of Ignatius, and in 1534 joined his little community (the infant Society of Jesus). Together at Montmartre they vowed poverty, chastity and apostolic service according to the directions of the pope.

From Venice, where he was ordained priest in 1537, he went on to Lisbon and rom there sailed to the East Indies, landing at Goa, on the west coast of India. For the next 10 years he labored to bring the faith to such widely scattered peoples as the Hindus, the Malayans and the Japanese.

Wherever he went, he lived with the poorest people, sharing their food and rough accommodations. He spent countless hours ministering to the sick and the poor, particularly to lepers. Very often he had no time to sleep or even to say his breviary but, as we know from his letters, he was filled always with joy.

Francis went through the islands of Malaysia, then up to Japan. He learned enough Japanese to preach to simple folk, to instruct and to baptize, and to establish missions for those who were to follow him. From Japan he had dreams of going to China, but this plan was never realized. Before reaching the mainland he died.

COMMENT: All of us are called to “go and preach to all nations” (see Matthew 28:19). Our preaching is not necessarily on distant shores but to our families, our children, our husband or wife, our coworkers. And we are called to preach not with words, but by our everyday lives. Only by sacrifice, the giving up of all selfish gain, could Francis be free to bear the Good News to the world.

Sacrifice is leaving yourself behind at times for a greater good, the good of prayer, the good of helping someone in need, the good of just listening to another. The greatest gift we have is our time. Francis gave his to others.

STORY: Francis died on the island of Sancian, a hundred miles southwest of Hong Kong. In his final sickness he had to be removed from the ship because the Portuguese sailors feared that kindness to him would offend their master. They were forced to leave him on the sands of the shore, exposed to a bitter wind, but a Portuguese merchant led him into a ramshackle hut. He prayed continually, between spasms of delirium and the doubtful therapy of bleeding. He grew weaker and weaker. “I [Anthony, his friend] could see that he was dying, and put a lighted candle in his hand. Then, with the name of Jesus on his lips, he gave his spirit to his Creator and Lord with great peace and repose.”

Short Prayer: Heavenly Father, You won many peoples to Yourself by the preaching of Saint Francis Xavier. Give is the same zeal that he had for the faith, and let Your Church rejoice to see the virtue and the number of her children increase throughout the world. Amen.

Source: Leonard Foley OFM (Editor), SAINT OF THE DAY – LIVES AND LESSONS FOR SAINTS AND FEASTS OF THE NEW MISSAL (Revised Edition), Cincinnati, Ohio: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1990, pages 321-322.