Daily Catholic Lectio. Wed, 3 December ’25. Missionary Saint

Daily Catholic Lectio

Wed, 3 December ‘25

Saint Francis Xavier, Solemnity (India)

Isaiah 61:1-3. 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23. Mark 16:15-20

Missionary Saint

Today we rejoice in the feast of Saint Francis Xavier, one of the great fathers of our faith in India. Through his courage, his zeal, and his love for Christ, the seed of the Gospel was planted in the hearts of our ancestors. He stands before us as a missionary saint—a man who allowed the Spirit to carry him beyond every boundary of land, culture, and comfort.

The readings of today, together with the reflections passed down through our tradition, invite us to understand mission in a new and deeper way.

1. Recognizing the Anointing

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” (Isaiah 61:1) Isaiah speaks of a divine anointing—an inner call that sends one forth to comfort, to heal, to proclaim freedom. Through Baptism, each of us has received this same anointing. Through ordination and religious consecration, many receive a deeper share of this mission. Saint Francis Xavier knew that he was a man sent by God. He allowed this anointing to shape his choices, to stir his compassion, and to mould his imagination. The Church challenges us today: Do we still remember the grace given to us? Do we treasure the gift that was placed upon us? Saint Paul warns Timothy: “Do not neglect the gift that is in you.” This is the first task of a missionary—to remember that mission begins in a heart touched by God.

2. Becoming “All Things to All People”

Saint Paul tells the Corinthians: “I have made myself all things to all people, so that I might win at least some.” (1 Cor 9:22) This was the strategy of Francis Xavier. He was a brilliant professor in Paris, yet he became a simple servant for the sake of Christ. He learned languages, adapted to food and climate, travelled endlessly, taught tirelessly, and embraced suffering with joy. He did not expect others to become like him; instead, he became like them—a child with children, a youth with the young, a comfort to the poor, a guide to the searching.

But today the world is different. Xavier preached freely in the streets; we cannot. Xavier baptized thousands; today conversion is deeply sensitive, and often misunderstood. Xavier lived in an age of aggressive expansion; today the Spirit calls the Church to witness with humility, dialogue, and mutual respect. Yet, the heart of mission remains the same: A missionary is one who enters the world of the other, listens deeply, and reveals Christ through compassion and fidelity.

3. Trusting the Lord Who Confirms the Word

The Gospel tells us: “The Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through signs.” (Mark 16:20) Francis Xavier trusted completely in the presence of the Lord. He prayed constantly, travelled fearlessly, and worked tirelessly because he knew he was not alone. His mission was not a human project—it was God’s work through a surrendered heart.

Sometimes in our ministries today, we focus so much on people, projects, structures, committees, and expectations that we forget the One who sends us. Without the Lord’s presence, our work becomes mere social service. But when we allow the Spirit to lead us, our service becomes an act of grace—gentle, life-giving, and transformative.

4. A Missionary Saint for a Changing Church

The Church of Xavier’s time and the Church of today are very different. Then, mission meant travelling to many places and expanding the faith. Today, mission means offering witness, walking with others, and proclaiming Christ through dialogue and love. Then, Christianity was simpler. Today, Christianity is intertwined with institutions, ministries, structures, and global challenges. Yet, at its core, mission is always the same: to reveal the heart of Christ to the world.

The Church today speaks of synodality, communion, collaboration, journeying together. It is searching for new ways to remain meaningful in a rapidly changing world. If we do not allow ourselves to be renewed, we risk becoming irrelevant—personally and as a community.

Saint Francis Xavier invites us to a threefold renewal:

A Threefold Call for Today

(a) Remember Your Anointing. Recall the grace you received—through Baptism, through Confirmation, through ministry. Mission begins with this memory.

(b) Be All Things to All People. Not by imposing our way, but by entering the life of others with humility, patience, and love. This is the missionary method of Christ.

(c) Trust the Lord Who Works With You. Mission is not our achievement. It is God’s work. If He does not walk with us, our words remain empty.

Conclusion

Saint Francis Xavier was a missionary saint not because he travelled widely, but because he surrendered completely to Christ. In our time, the Lord asks the same of us—not to imitate Xavier’s methods, but to embody his spirit.

May his feast renew in us the passion to serve, the courage to go beyond ourselves, and the trust to allow the Spirit to lead us. May we, too, become missionary saints for our world today.

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy