Memorial of St. Francis Xavier

Readings of the Day          Readings for Memorial of St. Francis Xavier

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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