Francis Xavier was one of the first to make profess vows in the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, in 1534. Three years later Francis and three others were ordained and sent to the East Indies. From there Francis Xavier and his companions established missions in the Indies, India, and in Japan. His success is legendary and it is reported that all that he did was celebrated with enthusiasm and joy.
St. Francis Xavier is a great Advent saint in that his mission unfolds the Word of God to those who had never encountered the God of all creation. His zeal and faithfulness indicate the great love that he had for the Word made flesh, and more so the love of the people he ministered to. In a letter to Ignatius, Francis Xavier wrote that many people were not becoming Christian because there had never been anyone to proclaim the Word of God, nor celebrate the sacraments.
In many ways we are in the midst of pagan territory today. In matter of fact there is certainly an aggression towards all things Christian. But like Francis Xavier we have to hear the Word of God deeply in our own hearts, nurture and nourish it, and share what we have received in love and charity. As Jesus had reminded us in the Gospels we have to love one another, including our enemies. As Christians we are called and challenged to be missionaries in our own culture.
To be sure there is something to be said of waiting in joyful hope for the coming of Jesus Christ as opposed to shaking a catechism at people. People will be more inspired when they can witness what faith means to us. So we continue to proclaim all that we have seen and heard.
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