Today, the universal church celebrates Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552).
He was an accomplished journalist. He left his homeland to proclaim glad tidings
to others. He truly lived the Gospel, as the evangelist Mark reaffirmed today, “Go
into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
The word “go” is a command to go not only understood as a command to go forth
or walk-in preaching the Gospel to the whole world. But it also means that the
Gospel is not only to be preached but also to be "living according to the
Gospel" that we have received from Lord Jesus. The Gospel is not only
reported or heralded, but it must also be lived.
A person in Christ believes that the Lord Jesus is not only a Gospel heir
but also a living proclamation. It means that we too must walk while revealing our lives that are filled with the Gospel of
Christ. How can people hear and believe the Gospel message we send forth if
others cannot see an example of our lives? Jesus came
into the world on one side to show that the promise of his salvation that had
been proclaiming by the prophets was not nonsense or a
silly promise but did occur. The greatness of God’s love for us humans is not
only words but Jesus proved it by dying on the
cross.
So Jesus’ command to go forth proclaiming the
Gospel was not limited to the form of a spoken heir, but just by seeing
ourselves, others would be able to get the news about Jesus.
Let us proclaim the Gospel to all creatures as exemplified by Saint Francis
Xavier. If we are already living in the Gospel of Christ, then it must be inherent in us. It must have power over us so
that it comes alive.
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