Priest
Biographical Information about St. Francis Xavier[1]
Readings for the Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Isaiah 4:2-6
The Prophet envisions a time when the Lord will give his divine blessing to the faithful who patiently await the moment of God’s great glory. This section of Isaiah’s oracle is seen as anticipating the fulfillment of the messianic promise fulfilled in Jesus.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Psalm 122 is a song of praise that anticipates the great procession into God’s house. While the Hebrews would have used this as a literal processional song, we see it as anticipating our entry into the New Jerusalem, the Kingdom of God.
Gospel Matthew 8:5-11
The story of the faith-filled Centurion is found also in the Gospels of St. Luke and St. John. It points uniquely to the Lord’s ministry to all peoples rather than just to the Jews. The story gives texture to the authority of Jesus over all things as this leader of men (Centurions commanded 100 men and officers) said he understood that Jesus did not need to be in the presence of his crippled servant to cure him. Rather he could, through delegation of this power, cause the miracle to happen. The Lord makes clear in the final statement that those who have faith in the Messiah have a special place reserved with all of the saints of heaven.
Reflection:
As we now fall into our anticipatory journey that will culminate in the great feast of the Nativity of our Lord, we are given a message of hope in the Gospel supported by the prophecy of Isaiah. The Lord does not have to be here physically to provide the help we need. If we have deep faith in his power and mercy, our petitions will be answered.
It is an immensely important message that we receive in this story of the faithful Centurion. It is one that even some of the disciples (actually only one really – St Thomas) did not understand. Christ came once that we might understand his promise. It was like an invitation to a great banquet. The messenger tells us we are invited and as invited guests we have certain standing with the host. We can call on the host for that which will help us get to his banquet and he will help us. Because of His great power and authority, he does not need to be physically there. He need only will an outcome and it will occur. St. Thomas said he would not believe until he was able to see the Lord, touch his wounds, and speak with him to be assured that he had risen from the dead. We need to go beyond that moment of doubt to the faith of the Centurion
We have received the invitation. We do not need to pull it out and look at it to know we are invited. We ask for the help we need, in His Name, and it occurs. The best example for us is the reoccurring gift he left us in the Eucharist. In the context of the Mass, our worship gathering, we call upon the Lord to make himself present for us as he promised he would in his final farewell to his disciples. In that moment when our faith reaches out though his earthly instrument, the Priest, as for us, standing in the place of Christ, he speaks those words “This is my body, broken for you.” And “This is my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.” Jesus responds to the prayer as he did to the Centurion, our faith has provided him entrance into our lives.
Our Advent preparation focuses us on internal preparation to receive him when he comes. We prepare to receive once more the infant who changes the world as God takes on the form of mankind and we prepare to receive him again when he comes in glory. Our prayer today is that our faith, strengthened by and fulfilled in our actions accomplishes its purpose and we too become so faith-filled that the Lord will say: “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.”
Pax
[1] The Picture today is “The Vision of St. Francis Xavier” by Baciccio, 1675
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
Biographical Information about St. Francis Xavier[1]
Readings for the Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Isaiah 4:2-6
The Prophet envisions a time when the Lord will give his divine blessing to the faithful who patiently await the moment of God’s great glory. This section of Isaiah’s oracle is seen as anticipating the fulfillment of the messianic promise fulfilled in Jesus.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Psalm 122 is a song of praise that anticipates the great procession into God’s house. While the Hebrews would have used this as a literal processional song, we see it as anticipating our entry into the New Jerusalem, the Kingdom of God.
Gospel Matthew 8:5-11
The story of the faith-filled Centurion is found also in the Gospels of St. Luke and St. John. It points uniquely to the Lord’s ministry to all peoples rather than just to the Jews. The story gives texture to the authority of Jesus over all things as this leader of men (Centurions commanded 100 men and officers) said he understood that Jesus did not need to be in the presence of his crippled servant to cure him. Rather he could, through delegation of this power, cause the miracle to happen. The Lord makes clear in the final statement that those who have faith in the Messiah have a special place reserved with all of the saints of heaven.
Reflection:
As we now fall into our anticipatory journey that will culminate in the great feast of the Nativity of our Lord, we are given a message of hope in the Gospel supported by the prophecy of Isaiah. The Lord does not have to be here physically to provide the help we need. If we have deep faith in his power and mercy, our petitions will be answered.
It is an immensely important message that we receive in this story of the faithful Centurion. It is one that even some of the disciples (actually only one really – St Thomas) did not understand. Christ came once that we might understand his promise. It was like an invitation to a great banquet. The messenger tells us we are invited and as invited guests we have certain standing with the host. We can call on the host for that which will help us get to his banquet and he will help us. Because of His great power and authority, he does not need to be physically there. He need only will an outcome and it will occur. St. Thomas said he would not believe until he was able to see the Lord, touch his wounds, and speak with him to be assured that he had risen from the dead. We need to go beyond that moment of doubt to the faith of the Centurion
We have received the invitation. We do not need to pull it out and look at it to know we are invited. We ask for the help we need, in His Name, and it occurs. The best example for us is the reoccurring gift he left us in the Eucharist. In the context of the Mass, our worship gathering, we call upon the Lord to make himself present for us as he promised he would in his final farewell to his disciples. In that moment when our faith reaches out though his earthly instrument, the Priest, as for us, standing in the place of Christ, he speaks those words “This is my body, broken for you.” And “This is my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.” Jesus responds to the prayer as he did to the Centurion, our faith has provided him entrance into our lives.
Our Advent preparation focuses us on internal preparation to receive him when he comes. We prepare to receive once more the infant who changes the world as God takes on the form of mankind and we prepare to receive him again when he comes in glory. Our prayer today is that our faith, strengthened by and fulfilled in our actions accomplishes its purpose and we too become so faith-filled that the Lord will say: “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.”
Pax
[1] The Picture today is “The Vision of St. Francis Xavier” by Baciccio, 1675
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
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