December 3 2024 - St. Francis Xavier - The Advent Mission

 On just the second weekday of Advent this year, we wear not Advent purple, but white, as we celebrate the obligatory memorial of a saint of the Church, St. Francis Xavier: a reminder, that the purpose of the season of Advent is to make us saints. The purpose of the Advent solemnity—Advent prayer, Advent charitable-giving, is to make us saints, to curb and convert our selfishness and self-absorption, into Christ-like selflessness and concern for the Other.

St. Francis Xavier was filled with zeal for what we might call, the Advent mission—helping others prepare their hearts to receive Christ. Francis Xavier was a Jesuit priest sent by the founder of his Order, St. Ignatius of Loyola, to evangelize pagan India. There he worked in hospitals, taught the catechism, and preached the Gospel. He also traveled to many of the islands around India, and as far as Japan and the Philippines, and is called the first apostle to the Philippines.  

In the course of only 10 years of missionary work, he baptized over 80,000 people. 

Francis Xavier engaged in missionary work because Christ himself was sent as a missionary by the Father for the work of salvation. This is the Advent mission—to prepare our hearts to receive Christ and to help others prepare their hearts as well. 

Consider how our readings today speak to the missionary dimension of the Christian life.

In our first reading, Isaiah speaks of a world transformed by the coming of the Messiah, a world where natural enemies live in harmony, and peace reigns over the earth. The Messiah was sent as a missionary to inaugurate a new reign of peace. St. Francis Xavier continued that mission, and all Christians are called to continue that mission, of leading souls to the peace of Christ. 

The psalm deepens this theme by extending the reign of God’s justice and peace. “He shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.” St. Francis Xavier cared for the sick and the poor, he preached to the unevangelized to help rescue those in the poverty of sin. Likewise, we extend the reign of the Prince of Peace, when we teach and preach and attend to the poor and afflicted.

In the Gospel, Jesus rejoices that the mysteries of God are revealed to the childlike. Here again is the missionary work—to reveal to the childlike the mysteries of God. But at the same time, we must maintain that childlike spirit—that joyful trust in the Lord which is cultivated through Advent prayer and Advent charity.

It was this childlike faith—a trust in the Father’s plan and a willingness to go wherever the Spirit led—that made St. Francis Xavier such a powerful missionary. He rejoiced in his share of Christ’s mission, seeing each soul brought to baptism as a fulfillment of the Father’s gracious will.

The word of God, and the holy example of this missionary saint, should deepen our desire to share the peace and goodness of Christ with others. May our hearts burn with zeal for the spread of Christ’s kingdom—his justice and peace, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Confident in the Lord’s love and inspired by the example of the saints, let us offer our prayers and petitions for the needs of the Church and the world.

For the Church, that during this Advent season she may inspire all the faithful to embrace missionary zeal, preparing their hearts and the hearts of others to receive Christ.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, for the Jesuit Order’s faithfulness to the mission of Christ, and through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier, all missionaries and those who proclaim the Gospel, may may be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to carry forward the mission of Christ with courage, faith, and love.

For peace in our world, that the reign of Christ’s justice and harmony, foretold by the prophet Isaiah, may be realized in every nation and among all people.

For all who have yet to encounter the joy of the Gospel, that through the witness of faithful Christians, they may come to know the peace and goodness of Christ.

For those who are poor, sick, or afflicted, that they may experience the healing and comforting presence of Christ through the care and compassion of His followers.

For the souls of the faithful departed, that they may rejoice forever in the glory of God’s kingdom.

Heavenly Father, through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier, grant us the grace to embrace our Advent mission, deepening our faith and extending Your love to the ends of the earth. We ask this through Christ our Lord.