1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23 / Mark 16:15-20
It is interesting to note that the Major Seminary in Singapore is dedicated to the patronage of St. Francis Xavier.
In the first year of formation in the Seminary, the seminarians had to read about the lives of the saints, and St. Francis Xavier was one for compulsory reading.
Reading about his life and his work is certainly very inspiring , but it must also be said that he is one model that is very difficult to match up to.
His missionary zeal, his perseverance and his persistence in preaching the gospel amidst the political clutter, his courage and determination were all very inspiring.
And it seemed that he spent so much time in the East in places like Goa, Malacca, China and Japan and learning the local languages so that he could preach to the local people that he eventually forgot his own mother tongue (Spanish).
What is amazing was that he took the trouble to learn the local languages and to follow the local customs and culture, and yet he was able to preach the truth of the gospel and bring people to conversion.
In St. Francis Xavier, we can see the words of today's gospel being fulfilled.
And the words of the gospel, the Good News, will continue to be fulfilled in us as long as we are willing to proclaim the Good News in word and in action.
We must always remember that it is not so much our suitability for the task but rather our availability for the mission.