< <  

Saturday, December 3, 2011

  > >

St. Francis Xavier


Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26
Psalm 147:1-6
Matthew 9:35—10:1, 5-8

View Readings
Similar Reflections

the love connection

Jesus "proclaimed the Good News of God's reign, and He cured every sickness and disease. At the sight of the crowds, His heart was moved with pity." —Matthew 9:35-36

In a world of bad news, God's Word is Good News. In His Word today, the Lord promises to answer our prayers, provide all our needs, give us clear direction, make us fruitful, be our light, and heal our wounds (Is 30:19-21, 25-26). The Lord loves us and expresses His love in many personal and practical ways.

However, many people do not receive all this love from the Lord. They may have refused to let the Lord be fully involved in their lives, or we the Christian people may be the problem. The Lord Jesus often expresses His love for people through the members of His body, the Church. When Jesus wants to touch somebody, He may use our hands. To visit the sick, He will often use our feet. To speak His Word, He will use our mouths. To love, Jesus will use our hearts. Therefore, if God's people don't obey Him, then many people throughout the world are deprived of fully knowing God's love. So we should pray for many more workers to take Jesus' love to the world (Mt 9:38), and we should be the first to answer our prayer.

This Advent, in a special way, touch, walk, speak, work, and love in Jesus' name. Let His love come to and through you.

Prayer:  Father, I allow You to make me a messenger of Your love.

Promise:  "The gift you have received, give as a gift." —Mt 10:8

Praise:  St. Francis allowed himself to be a messenger of God's love by constantly and sacrificially ministering to the poorest of the poor in India, Sri Lanka, and Japan.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape on Divine Love on audio AV 52-3 or video V-52.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 27, 2011

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.