St Francis Xavier

Isaiah 2:1-5; PS 122 Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord; Mt 8:5-11

Today on this first Monday of Advent two quotes.

First we hear from St. Francis of Xavier whose memorial the Church celebrates on this December 3rd.  In his missionary endeavor he was in constant correspondence with St. Ignatius. In one of his letters he speaks of the dire need for assistance as he looks out over the new converts to Christianity.  He states the following in summation: "The native Christians have no priest; there is no body to say mass; no body to teach them the Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the commandments."  And finally he states and "there is no body to make them Christians."

He speaks of the need for others to get involved in spreading the message of Christ.  Too many sit idly by believe in Christ but not wanting to get there hands dirty.  How he wished he go go to the places of learning, the universities to those people who have more "learning than charity" to tell them they should work as hard on being Christian as they do at their books and to settle their account with God for their learning and the talents he entrusted them."

Basically he was demanding people to be present to God's call.  In advent we wait for the coming of Christ and yet we forget that Christ waits for our coming as well.

Just as we beg for Christ he begs for us to be present.  As we pray 'come, Lord Jesus' so Jesus cries out come young and old, wise and foolish, men and women, come and be my voice, be my hands, be my heart to the world.  This is what Francis Xavier the saintly man who spent his life spreading the message desired for us as well.

As we wait in Advent may we also be busy and active in living our Christian values to the full.

Secondly, we hear for Christ in today's gospel: JEsus said to the centurion, "I will come and cure him."

In deed this is the summation of the incarnation.  Jesus comes to cure us.  By his coming, by his taking on our flesh, by his  entering the human state, he has bound our wounds and brought forth the healing remedy for all of humanity.

He has come; he has cured us; and yet like the man on the mat we are reluctant to rise.  We are reluctant to receive the healing hand that stretches forth to meet us in Christ.

Advent is also about the realization that the answer to woes in our life as already come.  We do not have to wait any longer.  Our waiting has ended even as it begins.  He has come.   We must go out to meet him.