Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, priest

(Isaiah 11:1-10; Luke 10:21-24)

When St. Francis Xavier was a missionary, probably in India, he found the people very receptive of the faith.  One letter home expressed how he exhausted himself baptizing children without reaching anywhere near the majority of people.  He wrote how he fantasized returning to a European university “crying out like a madman” to the men who kept their noses in books.  He would tell them, “…how many souls are being shut out of heaven and falling into hell, thanks to you.”

Advent underscores a similar message.  It urges people to wake from their indifference.  It announces that Christ is at hand with salvation for themselves as well as for others.  They must prepare for his arrival by acts of justice and mercy. 

What will it be like when he gets here?  The season picks out the promise of Isaiah that we hear in the first reading today to describe the wonder of his presence.  There will be peace like nothing ever known before: enemies embracing, fear vanishing, and everyone rejoicing in the Lord.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, priest

(Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 8:5-11)

One chronicler says that St. Francis Xavier was “the pampered son of a Basque noble.” Yet in due time he was able to shed the trappings of wealth to live as a missionary. It would be hard to believe that life in Asia for a Jesuit missionary was anything but grueling. What made Francis eager to go there? Probably as a founder of the Society of Jesus, Francis took to heart the order’s motto, “For the greater glory of God.”

The feast of St. Francis Xavier serves well at the beginning of Advent because he reminds us of the closeness of Christ. A Jesuit is trained to walk with Christ as his sole companion. He can live outside of community with the same enthusiasm as one who is well supported by comrades because he senses Christ’s presence. He can argue the reasonableness of Catholic belief because he is convinced of Christ’s love.

Advent is a paradoxical time. It has penitential elements, but we cannot help but anticipate the imminent arrival of Jesus. The glory achieved by Francis Xavier assures us that whatever discipline we undertake is worth the effort and whatever modest celebration we make is not out of order.

Homilette for Monday, December 3, 2007

Monday, Memorial of St. Francis Xavier

(Isaiah 4:2-6, Psalm 122, Matthew 8:5-11)

During Advent we are to wait patiently and purposefully but also with anticipation for the coming of the Lord. Because many busy themselves in commerce and revelry, it is hard to appreciate the import of these adverbs.

We wait patiently by reflecting on the significance of Christ’s coming. He will show himself to be what we have claimed all along – the Son of God, the Creator of the universe, and the Lord of history. All nations will recognize him as “Lord” as the centurion does in the gospel passage today.

Of course, we want to be regarded as his faithful subjects. Thus, we purposefully follow his commands day-by-day. Isaiah the prophet envisions those who remain faithful to God’s law being distinguished as “holy” like the Lord Himself. Christians see that Law revised to become essentially the grace of the Holy Spirit enabling us to conform to Jesus’ inestimable charity. Certainly St. Francis Xavier demonstrated this Spirit enhanced love as he labored tirelessly for the salvation of souls.

Waiting with anticipation may seem to conflict with waiting patiently. After all, when we anticipate something, we are ready to see it come about now. But there is a congruency about the two terms. After twenty centuries it would only be natural for Christians to give up the wait. We might conclude that Jesus erred when he said he would return or that we have mistaken his intent. However, his “com(ing) again in glory” is an article of faith that we cannot dismiss. So we tune up our ears and enlarge our radar screens to discern how exactly Jesus comes among us today, although not yet in full splendor. This uplifting creates an anticipation in us much like the holy people ready to enter Jerusalem in the responsorial psalm.