Teaching Care for the People

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary, today, the Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, invite us to be open to the prompting of the Spirit and the teaching of members of our community concerning our mission as followers of Christ.

Teaching and Learning the Way

The reading from the Prophet Isaiah declares that your Teacher will not hide himself any more.

* [30:20] Teacher: God, who in the past made the people blind and deaf through the prophetic message (6:9–10) and who in his anger hid his face from the house of Jacob (8:17), shall in the future help them to understand his teaching clearly (cf. Jer 31:34). (Isaiah, CHAPTER 30, n.d.)

Psalm 147 offers praise for God’s Care for Jerusalem.

* [Psalm 147] The hymn is divided into three sections by the calls to praise in Ps 147:1, 7, 12. The first section praises the powerful creator who restores exiled Judah (Ps 147:1–6); the second section, the creator who provides food to animals and human beings; the third and climactic section exhorts the holy city to recognize it has been re-created and made the place of disclosure for God’s word, a word as life-giving as water. (Psalms, PSALM 147, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, we learn the harvest Is great but the labourers are few  as Jesus initiates the Mission of the Twelve Apostles.

* [9:37–38] This Q saying (see Lk 10:2) is only imperfectly related to this context. It presupposes that only God (the master of the harvest) can take the initiative in sending out preachers of the gospel, whereas in Matthew’s setting it leads into Mt 10 where Jesus does so. (Matthew, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)

Mike Cherney comments that the Gospel has Jesus showing his compassion and missioning his disciples to go out and carry on His work. While these are the normal Lectionary texts for Advent, the Gospel seems particularly appropriate to today’s feast of Saint Francis Xavier. 

When I read today’s Gospel, I was reminded of John F Kennedy’s inaugural address which concludes "here on earth God’s work must truly be our own." (Rereading its full text, I was reminded how many of the issues of 1961 remain issues today.) I can imagine that 500 years ago, St. Ignatius and his initial followers had many of the same responses to this Gospel of compassion and missioning. Francis Xavier, whom we commemorate today, was among these founding members of the Society of Jesus. He spent the last 11 years of his life (dying at only 46 years of age) on a mission initially to India and then repeatedly to the Far East. His was a mission in line with Jesus’ charge in today’s Gospel. While many of the existing clergy in India saw their role as being in service to the Portuguese (Francis Xavier was also given a royal charge of restoring Christianity to Portuguese fortune seekers.), he often chose to build his community from the grassroots based on service to the indigenous population including a willingness to recognize the language and ways of other cultures. His concern for the poor and sick, along with the development of local leaders showed the same aspects of compassion which I read in today’s description of Jesus.

Dear Lord,

Grant me trust in Your promises.

Strengthen my patience recognizing that which is “worth waiting for”.

Forgive me for the moments when I capitulate out of weakness.

Help me to identify my mission of service that is based on compassion. (Cherney, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “In remembrance of heavenly life,” by Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.

"Why should the lunar reckoning be calculated from the noontide hours, seeing that the moon had not yet been placed in the heavens or gone forth over the earth? On the contrary, none of the feast days of the law began and ended at noon or in the afternoon, but all did so in the evening. Or else perchance it is because sinful Adam was reproached by the Lord 'in the cool of the afternoon' (Genesis 3:8) and thrust out from the joys of Paradise. In remembrance of that heavenly life which we changed for the tribulation of this world, the change of the moon, which imitates our toil by its everlasting waxing and waning, ought specifically to be observed at the hour in which we began our exile. In this way every day we may be reminded by the hour of the moon's changing of that verse, 'a fool changes as the moon' (Sirach 27:11) while the wise man 'shall live as long as the sun' (Psalm 72:5), and that we may sigh more ardently for that life, supremely blessed in eternal peace, when 'the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days.' Indeed, because (as it is written) 'from the moon is the sign of the feast day' (Sirach 43:7), and just as the first light of the moon was shed upon the world at eventide, so in the law it is compulsory that every feast day begin in the evening and end in the evening (see Exodus 12:18). (excerpt from THE RECKONING OF TIME 3.43) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 comments that there are times when God seems like he isn’t answering our prayers, when, in fact, he is working on them. We may not be able to see his ultimate plan right away, but Isaiah wants us to know that God is not ignoring us. He is cultivating our faith and bringing us to greater holiness.

For example, we may equate an immediate answer from God with an immediate solution to our problem. Maybe we are praying for our spouse to finally seek help in dealing with an addiction. But even as we pray and wait, God can use this situation to build up the virtue of patience in us even as we endure the struggle. Or we may want God to do something for us—like put the right job in our path. But God may be inviting us to be like the persistent widow in Jesus’ parable and keep on looking ourselves (Luke 18:1-8).

God is always “gracious” to us, even when we can’t see it (Isaiah 30:19). May we always place our faith in him.

“Lord, help me to trust that you are always caring for me.” (Meditation on Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the description of Isaiah of the restoration of Israel in physical richness and in teaching of the Way of the Lord to the people. On our journey, God will make it better by walking with us through the difficulties. Friar Jude notes the reluctance of a Pharisee editor of the Gospel of Matthew to use the title of God. We are involved in the ministry of sharting the Good News by our actions, forgiveness, and prayer.

 Brian McLaren extends an invitation to contemplate the deep issues in the Christian faith in a spirit of openness.

God, Lord of all creation, lover of life and of everything, please help us to love in our very small way what You love infinitely and everywhere. We thank You that we can offer just this one prayer and that will be more than enough,  because in reality every thing and every one is connected, and nothing stands alone. To pray for one part is really to pray for the whole, and so we do. Help us each day to stand for love, for healing, for the good, for the diverse unity of the Body of Christ and all creation, because we know this is what You desire: as Jesus prayed, that all may be one. We offer our prayer together with all the holy names of God, we offer our prayer together with Christ, our Lord, Amen. (McLaren, 2022)

We are called to be part of sharing the transformation of our society in the Way of Jesus as we contemplate the teaching that we have received on our journey.

References

Cherney, M. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved December 3, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/120322.html 

Isaiah, CHAPTER 30. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 3, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/30?9 

Matthew, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 3, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9?35 

McLaren, B. (2022, December 3). The Future of Christianity: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 3, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-future-of-christianity-2022-12-03/ 

Meditation on Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 3, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/12/03/547643/ 

Psalms, PSALM 147. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 3, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/147?1 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture ... Retrieved December 3, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=dec3 

Seeing with Hope

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to seek to see the environment around us with the eyes of gratitude for our blessings and hope for healing of discord in our communities.

Blessings and Hope

In response to his call from God, Father Roberto was led from his native Italy to bring the light of Christ and to teach about Christianity to many people and communities in his adopted country of Canada. He gave us increased faith, renewed hope, and hearts open to charity. May he rest in peace.

 

The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah shares hope for the future.

* [29:17–24] The prophet presents the positive aspects of God’s plan in terms of a series of reversals: an end to pride, ignorance, and injustice. Cf. 32:3–5.1

 

Psalm 27 is a triumphant Song of Confidence.

* [Psalm 27] Tradition has handed down the two sections of the Psalm (Ps 27:1–6; 7–14) as one Psalm, though each part could be understood as complete in itself. Asserting boundless hope that God will bring rescue (Ps 27:1–3), the psalmist longs for the presence of God in the Temple, protection from all enemies (Ps 27:4–6). In part B there is a clear shift in tone (Ps 27:7–12); the climax of the poem comes with “I believe” (Ps 27:13), echoing “I trust” (Ps 27:3).2 

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus heals two blind men.

* [9:27–31] This story was probably composed by Matthew out of Mark’s story of the healing of a blind man named Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46–52). Mark places the event late in Jesus’ ministry, just before his entrance into Jerusalem, and Matthew has followed his Marcan source at that point in his gospel also (see Mt 20:29–34). In each of the Matthean stories the single blind man of Mark becomes two. The reason why Matthew would have given a double version of the Marcan story and placed the earlier one here may be that he wished to add a story of Jesus’ curing the blind at this point in order to prepare for Jesus’ answer to the emissaries of the Baptist (Mt 11:4–6) in which Jesus, recounting his works, begins with his giving sight to the blind.3 

Nicky Santos, S.J. comments that as we celebrate today’s memorial, we are reminded of the zeal and vigor that marked Francis Xavier’s passion for spreading the gospel, so much so that he is considered a missionary apostle second only to Saint Paul. Francis Xavier’s strength was his total, unwavering faith in the saving power of Jesus.

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus asks the two blind men who were following him if they believed he could cure them, and they said they did. As we reflect on this gospel, we can ask ourselves whether we truly believe in the saving, healing power of Jesus. We might not be called to be missionaries in distant lands but are indeed called to be missionaries wherever we are, to continue to build the kingdom of God, a kingdom of joy, peace, justice, and righteousness.4 

Don Schwager quotes “They saw because they believed in the Messiah,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).

"At that point, two blind men follow the Lord as he was passing by. But if they could not see, how could the blind men know of the Lord's departure as well as his name? Moreover, they called him 'Son of David' and asked to be made well. In the two blind men, the entire earlier prefiguration [miracles in Matthew 9:18-26] is complete. The ruler's daughter seems to be from these people, namely, the Pharisees and John's disciples, who already made common cause in testing the Lord. To these unknowing persons the law gave evidence as to the one from whom they sought a cure. It indicated to them that their Savior in the flesh was of the line of David. It also introduced light to the minds of those who were blind from past sins. They could not see Christ but were told about him. The Lord showed them that faith should not be expected as a result of health but health should be expected because of faith. The blind men saw because they believed; they did not believe because they saw. From this we understand that what is requested must be predicated on faith and that faith must not be exercised because of what has been obtained. If they should believe, he offers them sight. And he charges the believers to be silent, for it was exclusively the task of the apostles to preach." (excerpt from commentary ON MATTHEW 9.9)5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 9:27-31 urges that, as we pray, we also ask God for the grace to surrender the situation into his hands. It’s not always easy to offer our most pressing petitions to God and then let go of the outcome, but the more we practice, the more our trust in him will grow.

God may give you a healing, maybe even a miraculous one. Or the healing might be different than you expected, perhaps emotional or spiritual. Maybe you won’t notice any change at all. Whatever happens, Jesus hears your prayers; he is always at your side, loving you, comforting you, and sustaining you. He will bring good out of your suffering, even if you can’t see it right away. After all, he is your Redeemer. By dying on the cross and rising from the dead, he has delivered you from sin and death. And that, in the end, is the greatest healing of all! “Jesus, as I pray for healing, help me to surrender all my needs into your loving hands.”6 

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the universal healing, even of the ignorant, in the text from Isaiah. All God wants is our healing. Friar Jude reminds us of the gift of our faith that may be received in different measures by different people as we accept that people are trying to do the best they can.

 

The Franciscan Media post on St Francis Xavier comments that Francis Xavier was influenced by 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. From Venice, where he was ordained a priest in 1537, he sailed to the East Indies, landing at Goa, on the west coast of India.  Xavier went through the islands of Malaysia, then up to Japan. From Japan he had dreams of going to China, but this plan was never realized. Before reaching the mainland, he died. His remains are enshrined in the Church of Good Jesus in Goa. He and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux were declared co-patrons of the missions in 1925.

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 Xavier 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 Xavier gave his to others.7

 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, keeping with his Franciscan tradition, teaches that we can find God’s freely given image in all of creation, beginning with ourselves!

Jesus pushes this seeing to the social edge. Can we recognize the image of Christ in the least of our fellow human beings? That is his only description of the final judgment (see Matthew 25). Nothing about ten commandments, nothing about church attendance—simply a matter of our ability to see. Can we meet Christ in the “nobodies” who can’t play our game of success? In those who cannot reward us in return? When we see the image of God where we are not accustomed to seeing the image of God, then we see with the infinitely tender eyes of God.8 

As we seek the vision of the image of God in all people we are encouraged by hope of transformation through the guidance of the Spirit.

 

References

1	(n.d.). Isaiah, CHAPTER 29 | USCCB. Retrieved December 3, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/29
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 27 | USCCB. Retrieved December 3, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/27
3	(n.d.). Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. Retrieved December 3, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - Online Ministries. Retrieved December 3, 2021, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/120321.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 3, 2021, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2021&date=dec3
6	(n.d.). Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Meditations for December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021, from https://wau.org/meditations/2021/12/03/259159/
7	(n.d.). Saint Francis Xavier | Franciscan Media. Retrieved December 3, 2021, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-francis-xavier
8	(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive: 2021 - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 3, 2021, from https://cac.org/god-is-present-in-all-2021-12-03/