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!
Strong is his love for us;
he is faithful for ever.
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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Go and proclaim
Today, we celebrate the Feast of St Francis Xavier, a Spanish missionary known for his work in India, Malacca, and Japan. Like St Paul in today’s first reading to the Corinthians, St Francis felt a deep compulsion to preach the gospel. This was not a task he undertook for personal gain; rather, Francis embraced his mission as a responsibility entrusted to him by God. Despite the hardships he faced during his missionary journeys, his clear goal remained: to share the good news and help people encounter Jesus, the source of life and love.
Jesus’ words in the gospel resonate with us today: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation.” We are called to proclaim the gospel through our words and actions, living in a way that reflects Christ. This is not merely an option but an essential part of being a Christian. May the life of St Francis Xavier inspire us to joyfully reach out and bring others to encounter Jesus.
Reflective question:
How can I participate actively in Jesus’ mission today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
