Readings: Isaiah 25:6-10, Ps. 23, Matthew 15:29-37
“And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the dumb, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the throng wondered when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.” (Matthew 15:30-31)
In Isaiah’s time, the people who listened to him could only imagine what he was talking about. Nonetheless, as we see in the Gospel passage, the prophecy of Isaiah became a reality in the feeding of the multitude. Dear friends, the message for us today is straightforward: Everything God has revealed in the Bible must surely come to pass. God never fails. He is Faithful. He never fails.
Christmas, the celebration of God becoming man for our sake, is a time to remind ourselves that God is a promise-keeper. As all the prophets spoke about, so it came to pass. One beautiful song puts it this way: “The Steadfast Love of the Lord never ceaseth, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, new every morning; great is thy faithfulness, O Lord, great is thy faithfulness.”
Today, our Responsorial Psalm describes God as a shepherd who never lets his sheep down. A shepherd who gives his sheep repose along fresh and green pastures; a shepherd who guides the sheep along the right path; a shepherd who never abandons his sheep even when they walk through the shadow of death, and a shepherd who prepares a table for the sheep even in the presence of the enemies.
Things may appear very tough for you right now; you may have felt disappointed in God, the Church or its ministers for not meeting your expectations. Nevertheless, know that God has not changed; He is still Faithful and has not failed you yet. Christmas is a reminder that God has not yet given up on humankind.
Another song says, “God is not a man. His words will surely come to pass. He would never fail. His word will come to pass.” Whenever I am tempted to ask God, “Why is this? Why is that?” I remind myself of St. Paul’s admonition: “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him” (Romans 8:28).
St. Francis Xavier, born on 7 April 1506 in Navarre, is a key figure in Christian missionary history. Raised in a noble family, he experienced the hardships of war before attending the University of Paris. There, he became friends with Peter Favre and was deeply inspired by Ignatius of Loyola, leading him to choose the priesthood.
On 15 August 1534, Xavier, Favre, and their companions took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, aiming to spread Christianity in the Holy Land. However, conflicts prevented them from doing so, leading them to establish the Society of Jesus, later known as the Jesuits, which Pope Paul III approved in 1540.
With Portugal expanding into India, Xavier set out to strengthen Christian communities among Portuguese settlers, beginning his mission on his 35th birthday in 1541. He arrived in Goa in 1542, where he cared for the sick and children. Xavier continued his work along the Pearl Fishery Coast, building 40 churches despite challenges posed by Portuguese misconduct.
His missionary efforts extended to Malacca and the Maluku Islands, and in 1549, he travelled to Japan. There, he adjusted his methods to respect local cultures but encountered resistance from traditional beliefs. Xavier planned to spread Christianity to China, but conflicts in Malacca and his declining health prevented him from completing this mission. He passed away on 3 December 1552 and was initially buried on an island off the coast of China. Beatified in 1619 and canonised alongside Ignatius of Loyola in 1622, St. Francis Xavier is honoured as the patron saint of Catholic missions.
Let us pray: O God, who through the preaching of Saint Francis Xavier won many peoples to yourself, grant that the hearts of the faithful may burn with the same zeal for the faith and that Holy Church may everywhere rejoice in an abundance of offspring. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Saint Francis Xavier, Priest. Liturgical Colour: White. Bible Study: Isaiah 25:6-10, Ps. 23, Matthew 15:29-37)
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu