Today we celebrate St. Francis Xavier, the great patron of missions and one of the closest companions of St. Ignatius of Loyola. His life be...
Today we celebrate St. Francis Xavier, the great patron of missions and one of the closest companions of St. Ignatius of Loyola. His life beautifully intertwines with our readings, summarized in three words: Mountain, Multitude, and Mission.
First, the Mountain. Isaiah speaks of a holy mountain where the Lord prepares a feast of rich food and fine wines. This is a prophecy of the Eucharist—the banquet where God feeds us not just with bread, but with Himself. St. Francis Xavier traveled to the ends of the earth, to Asia and the Pacific, precisely to invite people to this mountain. He wanted everyone, regardless of language or culture, to have a seat at God's table.
Second, the Multitude. In the Gospel, great crowds bring the lame, the blind, and the deformed to Jesus. And what does He do? He heals them and He feeds them. He looks at the multitude not as a nuisance, but with compassion. "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd," He says. St. Francis Xavier shared this view. When he saw the multitudes in India and Japan who did not know Christ, his heart broke for them. He didn't see numbers; he saw souls hungry for the Bread of Life.
Third, the Mission. The disciples asked, "Where could we get enough bread in this deserted place?" They looked at their scarcity; Jesus looked at their mission. He took what little they had—seven loaves and a few fish—and multiplied it. St. Francis Xavier often had little resources, yet he baptized thousands.
The lesson for us is clear: We are called to continue this mission. We must look at the multitude around us—our neighbors, our officemates—with compassion, and invite them to the mountain of the Lord, knowing that God will multiply the little effort we give.
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