Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest
Alternate Proper for the Memorial of St. Francis Xavier
Readings for Thursday of the First Week of Advent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Isaiah 26:1-6
On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah:
“A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you.”
Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Is 26:1-6
This selection from the book of Isaiah is part of a longer psalm of thanksgiving (Isaiah 25:1-27:1). It celebrates the victory of God as if it had already taken place. The vision of the secure and indomitable fortress, protected by faith in God is portrayed. That foundation of faith is like a rock which will endure forever. The warning is there as well as the prophet sees cities not founded on that same rock being destroyed, trampled by the poor for whom God has special care.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a
R. (26a) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD’s;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a
Psalm 118 is a song of thanksgiving. The selection given here links to the imagery in Isaiah above as praise is given to God who is our refuge and protection. The heavenly city is envisioned with “gates of justice” into which the faithful enter to receive mercy and salvation from God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-27
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 7:21, 24-27
This reading from St. Matthew’s Gospel continues an attack on “false prophets” that began in verse 15. Here the Lord makes a distinction between saying and doing. The familiar metaphor of the “house built upon rock” refers to those who hear the word of the Lord from an authentic source and act upon it. The house built on sand is a metaphor for those who either are not taught authentically (by false prophets) or who do not act upon what they have been given.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We consider for a moment the analogy of the house built upon sand and the house built upon rock. When Jesus was teaching his disciples his intent was to warn them that there were others around at the time who claimed to be teaching God’s word. They lead people down false paths like the Jews who taught that there was no resurrection. Think of it- if they had followed one of those who stole the hope of the life Christ promised. Only when it was too late and they were on their death bed would they realize how bleak and empty those teachings had been. Truly those foundations were built upon sand.
The same is going on today. How often do we hear the New Age philosophers proposing old arguments that they have tired to make new with different words. They spout the same rhetoric that has been proposed by atheists and hedonists from the earliest of the Greek Philosophers. In the end, all of that talk comes from arrogance and greed; misguided enthusiasm that when challenged by the real world crumbles like sand in water, washed away unable to support even the weight of itself.
For us we place our faith in Jesus who gives us strength to endure all that life might throw at us. While the storms of life might not shake our foundation of faith, those storms are relentless and like any structure the only way to keep the faith that is our foundation strong is through constant maintenance. Even the great pyramids may erode in the facie of constant wind and sand.
In that regard we may think of this Advent season as “Winter Maintenance” (spring maintenance for our brothers and sisters in the southern hemisphere). Let us take this season of anticipation to renew our foundation through prayer, strengthen it with sacramental grace, and redecorate it with acts of charity. When the Lord comes, may he find that foundation strong, without cracks, ready to bear up through an eternal life which he promised.
Pax
Alternate Proper for the Memorial of St. Francis Xavier
Readings for Thursday of the First Week of Advent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Isaiah 26:1-6
On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah:
“A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you.”
Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Is 26:1-6
This selection from the book of Isaiah is part of a longer psalm of thanksgiving (Isaiah 25:1-27:1). It celebrates the victory of God as if it had already taken place. The vision of the secure and indomitable fortress, protected by faith in God is portrayed. That foundation of faith is like a rock which will endure forever. The warning is there as well as the prophet sees cities not founded on that same rock being destroyed, trampled by the poor for whom God has special care.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a
R. (26a) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD’s;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a
Psalm 118 is a song of thanksgiving. The selection given here links to the imagery in Isaiah above as praise is given to God who is our refuge and protection. The heavenly city is envisioned with “gates of justice” into which the faithful enter to receive mercy and salvation from God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-27
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 7:21, 24-27
This reading from St. Matthew’s Gospel continues an attack on “false prophets” that began in verse 15. Here the Lord makes a distinction between saying and doing. The familiar metaphor of the “house built upon rock” refers to those who hear the word of the Lord from an authentic source and act upon it. The house built on sand is a metaphor for those who either are not taught authentically (by false prophets) or who do not act upon what they have been given.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We consider for a moment the analogy of the house built upon sand and the house built upon rock. When Jesus was teaching his disciples his intent was to warn them that there were others around at the time who claimed to be teaching God’s word. They lead people down false paths like the Jews who taught that there was no resurrection. Think of it- if they had followed one of those who stole the hope of the life Christ promised. Only when it was too late and they were on their death bed would they realize how bleak and empty those teachings had been. Truly those foundations were built upon sand.
The same is going on today. How often do we hear the New Age philosophers proposing old arguments that they have tired to make new with different words. They spout the same rhetoric that has been proposed by atheists and hedonists from the earliest of the Greek Philosophers. In the end, all of that talk comes from arrogance and greed; misguided enthusiasm that when challenged by the real world crumbles like sand in water, washed away unable to support even the weight of itself.
For us we place our faith in Jesus who gives us strength to endure all that life might throw at us. While the storms of life might not shake our foundation of faith, those storms are relentless and like any structure the only way to keep the faith that is our foundation strong is through constant maintenance. Even the great pyramids may erode in the facie of constant wind and sand.
In that regard we may think of this Advent season as “Winter Maintenance” (spring maintenance for our brothers and sisters in the southern hemisphere). Let us take this season of anticipation to renew our foundation through prayer, strengthen it with sacramental grace, and redecorate it with acts of charity. When the Lord comes, may he find that foundation strong, without cracks, ready to bear up through an eternal life which he promised.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The photograph is the Lighthouse at South Haven Michigan, Photographer and Date UNKNOWN
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
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