Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, priest
(Isaiah
29:17-24; Matthew 9:21-37)
Francis Xavier
was one of the founders of the Jesuit Order.
He was a friend of St. Ignatius at the University of Paris. The two, with a handful of others pledged, to
live in communion with Jesus for the good of the Church. Francis took up the challenge of going to the
Far East to bring Christ to the people there.
We should
see Francis not so much concerned with numbers of converts but with the good of
the people. In a letter he wrote to
Ignatius from India, he says people were waiting to be baptized. Baptism, of course, is more than a
ritual. It is the end of a process of learning
the wisdom of Christian living. Francis
no doubt saw himself like Jesus in today’s gospel. As Jesus literally opened the eyes of the two
blindmen, so Francis opened the eyes of the Indian people to the goodness of God.
Recent popes
have emphasized how the missions are no longer mostly overseas. They are increasingly in our neighborhoods and
even families. We must tell others about
Christ. We also want to show the wonder
of living the faith to those who do not know it. Praying and following Christ’s ways brings
peace to our souls. Trials are not as intense
for us because Christ is here to support us.
