Bible Diary

Daily Reading

St Francis Xavier

LECTIONARY
219

FIRST READING

JER 1:4-8

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

and before you were born I consecrated you;

I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.”
But the Lord said to me,
Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’;

for you shall go to all to whom I send you,

and you shall speak whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them,

for I am with you to deliver you,

says the Lord.”

SECOND READING

2 COR 4:7-15

But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—“I believed, and so I spoke”—we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

GOSPEL

LK 10:1-16

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But at the judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum,

will you be exalted to heaven?


 No, you will be brought down to Hades. “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

Daily Reflection

3rd December 2025

St Francis Xavier

Today we celebrate the Feast of the principal patron of the Archdiocese of Bombay - St Francis Xavier.

What was different about St Francis Xavier’s message? Why was he so effective?

Available images of Francis Xavier, show him with a crucifix, a bible and (occasionally) a bell! In other words, the focus of his preaching & teaching was the Paschal Mystery and Scripture.

Faced with diverse mythologies, theologies, philosophies and religious practices, Francis presented a theology of monotheism – three persons, one God! He spoke of salvation 'history' – recorded events of how God’s promise to his people in the Old Testament through the prophets was brought to fulfilment in the New Testament through Jesus. He spoke of Jesus’ teachings - especially the commandment of ‘LOVE’ and his miracles that pointed to God’s love for humankind.

Francis’ teachings brought many to the belief in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection, the uniformity of prayer through the Sacraments. He also taught inclusiveness, removing social barriers between rich and poor, women and men, and those considered outcasts.

Francis was a fearless witness. How do I witness?