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Memorial of St. Francis Xavier

Readings of the Day          Readings for
Memorial of St. Francis Xavier
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There is an interesting
connection between the readings for this day and the particular
readings for
the Memorial of St. Francis Xavier. Isaiah's beautiful and
descriptive
illustration of the Messianic Age and the sending of the Eleven by
Jesus in
Mark's Gospel to proclaim the Good News
into the whole world and to every creature (which St. Francis Xavier
took
to heart in his missionary work, to India, Japan, and China) both
share a
common vision for a world very different from what we are experiencing
today.

It is a
vision of a world where the divisions between humanity and nature as
well as
between people of different tongues and cultures, cease to exist.
God's Anointed One, the Messiah, will bring justice and
understanding, which alone can
break the divisions of race, color, culture, and creed. The result of
this is
what Isaiah describes in his imagery of wolf
and lamb, cow and bear, baby and cobra... co-existing peacefully.
Might these
today be Israeli and Palestinian, Sunni
and Shias, or perhaps, Republican and
Democrat? 

A dream
perhaps, but you and I, anointed at Baptism, are tasked with building
such a
world. Is this not the work of Catholic Charities every day? Do we
not, through
our programs and outreach, welcome all to the safety of God's
Holy Mountain, where there will be no harm or ruin?

This vision
will also come to be realized when bridges are built between the
world's
religious traditions. This was some of St Francis Xavier's great
work in South
East Asia. Many Catholic Charities agencies, like my own, have staff
from
diverse faith traditions which enrich us all, such as Hinduism,
Buddhism, and
Islam. This year, we are hosting bi-monthly interfaith luncheons to
better
understand these religious faiths within our agency. In doing so, we
not only foster
respect and unity, but will also better understand our own Catholic
faith; for
it has been said that the gospel goes to
all the nations, not only because all the nations have need of the
gospel; but
because the gospel has need of all the nations! In the breaking down
of all
divisions, we will discover the ultimate truth not only of the oneness
of God,
but the oneness of all humanity and creation.

 

 

Deacon Lucio Caruso is Director of Mission of Catholic Charities of
Louisville and serves on the Catholic Charities USA Parish Social
Ministry Leadership Team.

 

 

 

 

 




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