Saint Francis Xavier, Priest
God cares about his scattered sheep and he has come to us and called us to pray and to go, not individually as much as in ranks and orders. We first go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and then to the nations to gather them into Israel. As we follow the call and keep to the priorities and order we will experience his presence.
Title
Outline
Our readings are about what St Francis Xavier did not do
But there is a “but” and the “but” is that there is a Shepherd
But how is the Shepherd going about this?
Sisters, these directions have never been superseded
Readings
FIRST READING
Isaiah 30:19–21, 23–26
19 Yes, people of Zion, dwelling in Jerusalem,
you shall no longer weep;
He will be most gracious to you when you cry out;
as soon as he hears he will answer you.
20 The Lord will give you bread in adversity
and water in affliction.
No longer will your Teacher hide himself,
but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,
21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you:
“This is the way; walk in it,”
when you would turn to the right or the left.
23 He will give rain for the seed
you sow in the ground,
And the bread that the soil produces
will be rich and abundant.
On that day your cattle will graze
in broad meadows;
24 The oxen and the donkeys that till the ground
will eat silage tossed to them
with shovel and pitchfork.
25 Upon every high mountain and lofty hill
there will be streams of running water.
On the day of the great slaughter,
when the towers fall,
26 The light of the moon will be like the light of the sun,
and the light of the sun will be seven times greater,
like the light of seven days,
On the day the LORD binds up the wounds of his people
and heals the bruises left by his blows.
RESPONSE
Isaiah 30:18d
18 Truly, the LORD is waiting to be gracious to you,
truly, he shall rise to show you mercy;
For the LORD is a God of justice:
happy are all who wait for him!
PSALM
Psalm 147:1–6
1 Hallelujah!
How good to sing praise to our God;
how pleasant to give fitting praise.
2 The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem,
and gathers the dispersed of Israel,
3 Healing the brokenhearted,
and binding up their wounds.
4 He numbers the stars,
and gives to all of them their names.
5 Great is our Lord, vast in power,
with wisdom beyond measure.
6 The LORD gives aid to the poor,
but casts the wicked to the ground.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Isaiah 33:22
22 For the LORD is our judge,
the LORD is our lawgiver,
the LORD is our king;
he it is who will save us.
GOSPEL
Matthew 9:35–10:1, 10:5a, 6–8
35 Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. 36 At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; 38 so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
CHAPTER 10
1 Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.
5 Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
6 Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
Notes
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2022 | MEMORIAL
SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER, PRIEST
YEARS 1 & 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY
From Saturday of the 1st Week of Advent
First Reading Isaiah 30:19–21, 23–26
Response Isaiah 30:18d
Psalm Psalm 147:1–6
Gospel Acclamation Isaiah 33:22
Gospel Matthew 9:35–10:1, 10:5a, 6–8