"Open the Gates"

(The following is a homily given at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Enid OK, on the memorial of St. Francis Xavier, Priest – 12/03/15)

Reading 1 Is 26:1-6

Responsorial Psalm PS 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a

Gospel Mt 7:21, 24-27

Today we celebrate the feast of our patron, St. Francis Xavier.  This saint lived a life of selfless love for those who had not heard the message of Christ, going to the people of Asia, and particularly to India. This was the ends of the world during his time.  Uncharted territory for the West.  Yet he knew the vocation God had given him was one of dispelling the darkness of ignorance and unknowing so that the Gospel could transform the world.

Echoing the words of our psalm today, Francis Xavier wished to “open the gates of justice, [and so welcome others to] enter them and give thanks to the LORD.” (see Ps 118).  He knew the power of Christ’s message, and so wished for everyone to listen to His saving words. 

St. Francis wished to open the gates of justice and mercy to every human person because each is made in the image and likeness of God.  In bringing the Good News to those who had never heard it, he stressed to those of us who have to not only listen to what we have heard, but to act upon it.

In a special way, we are the disciples of our patron in the world today.  We have been called to open the gates of our hearts so that we may listen and act on the words of salvation given to us here, and so make it available to a world in need of justice and mercy. 

With courage, let us follow in the footsteps of our patron.  Let us “forget [our] own desires, [our] human affairs, and give [ourselves] over entirely to God’s Will and his choice.” (see Office of Readings, Memorial of St. Francis Xavier)

Then the gates of justice and mercy will be open to us.  Then we will have the ability to “cry out with all [our] heart: Lord, I am here!  What do you want me to do?" Then we will have to courage to say to our Lord:  "Send me anywhere you like” (ibid.)

– even to the wind-swept plains of Enid.