Thomas Lima csc –
Readings: Jer 1:4-9; 2 Cor 4:7-15; Lk 10: 1-16
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Francis Xavier. As a missionary, his goal was to spread Christianity to the whole world. He was known to be a charismatic man, always seeking the will of God.
I love him for his missionary zeal and ability to influence the lives of others. He saw the importance of making himself one with the people and adapting himself to their lifestyles. He never lost joy and spirit of enthusiasm while getting engaged in the mission of the Lord.
The First Reading speaks of the calling of Jeremiah to be a prophet, to communicate God’s Word to his people. It was a calling that went back to the time before he was born. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.”
All of us have been called this way. Before we were conceived in mother’s womb the Lord was thinking about us and chose us to be set apart as ministers of his word to everyone. St. Francis was someone who understood what God had willed for him as a missionary. He understood the mission command of Jesus as it was meant to be understood. Seeing the harvest plentiful he came forward to work in the vineyard of the Lord. He took up the mission of incarnating Christ’s love, peace, and joy. To proclaim the gospel of mercy he crossed the borders of every sort.
Following the example of Francis Xavier let us live into God’s call and tend to the harvest which God has already planted!