Image Saint Francis Xavier, holding a crucifix, looking upwards. (Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0)
First reading 1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-23
I should be punished if I did not preach the Gospel
I do not boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty which has been laid on me; I should be punished if I did not preach it! If I had chosen this work myself, I might have been paid for it, but as I have not, it is a responsibility which has been put into my hands. Do you know what my reward is? It is this: in my preaching, to be able to offer the Good News free, and not insist on the rights which the gospel gives me.
So though I am not a slave of any man I have made myself the slave of everyone so as to win as many as I could. For the weak I made myself weak: I made myself all things to all men in order to save some at any cost; and I still do this, for the sake of the gospel, to have a share in its blessings.
Responsorial Psalm 116(117):1-2
Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.
or
Alleluia!
O praise the Lord, all you nations,
acclaim him all you peoples!
Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.
or
Alleluia!
Strong is his love for us;
he is faithful for ever.
Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.
or
Alleluia!
Gospel Mark 16:15-20
Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News
Jesus showed himself to the Eleven and said to them:
‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.’
And so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven: there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.
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A life driven by passion for Jesus and His people
Today, we celebrate the feast of the Jesuit missionary priest, St. Francis Xavier, who the Church rightfully declares to be the patron of missions and missionaries. This Spanish missionary passionately went to India, Malacca, the Moluccas and Japan, and preached Christ to the people who had not heard of the gospel. He desired to go to China because he knew its impact on the rest of Asia. Sadly, St. Francis never got to set foot in China. He died on a deserted island facing the mainland. We might not do what St. Francis Xavier did, but we too can become missionaries who share our faith with those around us in our own ways.
“Mission is a passion for Jesus and at the same time a passion for his people” (Pope Francis, 2015). Today, out of love for Jesus, let us commit ourselves to bringing others to know and love Him through our words and deeds. May St. Francis Xavier be with us!
Question for reflection:
How can I share my faith with those I meet today?
How can I share my faith with those I meet today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr. Sandra Seow FMVD.
