Unwaivering Missionary Zeal

Today is the feast of Saint Francis Xavier who spent himself for the majority of his life in the mission as he spread the Good News to a world that was virtually unknown in his time. Xavier brought Christ to the rich and to the poor of the East-- especially India and Japan. He is known for his charismatic and zealous joy. Last year during a silent retreat my spiritual director referred to Francis Xavier as an example of someone who saw his cause as so important that it was worth everything-- it was worth his entire life; and once Xavier determined to accept this cause everything in his life changed. He no longer lived for himself, but for others. He no longer chose his surroundings or his companions, but was sent to work tirelessly for his cause. And he did no waiver in zeal as he labored generously in embracing this cause and sharing it with others.

The cause that Francis Xavier devoted his entire life to was the salvation of souls-- the sheer joy of working tirelessly so that the eternal union with God which he hoped for so thoroughly could also include every single person. Francis Xavier taught that our knowledge as well as our talents exist for others. Every gift we receive ought to be utilized and shared with others and for the sake of others. We ought to live every moment of our lives for the sake of others-- and we ought to live those moments in joy.

As we are told in Scripture and as is reflected in the life of the Church-- our lives as Christians are fundamentally lives of service, lived for others. We are told that in the final days we will be judged based on how we lived love-- on how thoroughly we served others, how we adequately met their needs, spiritually, materially, etc. Therefore, whether or not we speak eloquently, whether or not we lead and influence others-- we must be people of service. And that, if we are Christians, is not an option. All-in-all, then, our lives exist for others. As Francis Xavier showed through the example of his life, our every gift, talent, and bit of information ought to be used for others.

And most likely Francis Xavier would have never been exposed to this great cause had it not been for his old buddy from college. If it had not been for his friendship with a classmate named Ignatius-- Francis would most likely have continued along his path of being a wealthy fun loving man of the world. But thanks to the patience, persistence, and teachings of Ignatius, Francis Xavier was brought not only to conversion but to a complete revolution which led him to devote himself totally to the God that he met and communed with in the Spiritual Exercises.

As I was praying by the remains of Francis Xavier I thought about how completely and totally, how zealously he resolved to follow and share the God that he met through the Exercises. And I also thought about how tremendously great of a friend Ignatius was. I remembered the great many friends that I have been blessed to learn from over the years-- especially those friends and mentors who have led me to conversion and have sparked within me the desire to share the God that I have met through prayer and interactions with others. I cannot help but be overwhelmed with gratitude for these people-- for these saints who have touched my life in a such a real way.

It's interesting to think about who we let into our lives and who we listen to-- who we allow to teach us. Sometimes we have criteria or deal breakers when it comes to meeting people or to listening to them with the intention of learning from them. On my way out of school this afternoon I stopped to talk with a man that is out in the couryard almost every day asking for money. Giusepe is a native Roman who likes to sit outside the Gregorian, ask for money, and sing a wide variety of different songs to the passers-by, often-times complaining about the other people who congregate around the Gregorian asking for money. Today, as he asked me for some money so that he could get something to eat, I responded that I was really sorry, but I didn't have any money-- and before I knew it he had put a Euro in my hand and said, "Well, then you need this more than I do today."

I gave the Euro back to him, but not without much arguing-- and I realized that this man was certainly more than worthy of being considered a teacher, of being considered an expert in what really matters. And I wonder how many people we dismiss throught the course of a single day-- how many great teachers we tune out or ignore simply because of a disagreement, difference in opinion-- or worse yet, status or title. It is scary to think about what is at stake here, to think about what is at stake if we ignore the true teachers of our daily experiences, the true saints.

Our world today would be completely different if it had not been for the unwaivering missionary zeal of St. Francis Xavier... and that man, Francis Xavier's, life would certainly not have been the same if he had not listened to his naggingly persistent classmate from Spain. In our lives I believe that we are both the teacher and the student... at different times... Don't miss your opportunities to spend yourself tirelessly for the cause of living the Gospel, for the cause of living for others.