It is 3rd December 2016. We celebrate the feast day of St Francis Xavier, Priest. He is one of the prominent missionaries in the history of the Church. He is one of the patrons of missions. His prayer to the Lord was, “Give me souls.” His thirst for souls urged him to go to the most neglected places in spreading the Gospel. Even though he was so erudite and was lecturing in the University of Paris, he offered himself to go and share the good news to the poor. “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Matthew 16:26a). From 1540 until his death, he led an energetic mission into Asia, mainly in India and Sri Lanka, but also visiting Japan, Borneo, and other islands. He longed to preach in China, but he died at the age of 46. The readings are from Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26; and the Gospel from Matthew 9:35-38, 10:1, 5-8. The first reading offers hope to all who believe in God. The prophet speaks about sorry for our sins and sorrow in adversity. No one likes suffering. The world trying its best to provide a suffering-free society, but it ends up finding itself in more sufferings. Sufferings caused by human errors, mistakes and sins. God is consoling God’s people not to weep over a suffering rather to accept the suffering humbly to purify what we have already messed up. God purifies our sous and heals our psychic and spiritual wounds as God heals us. “On the day the Lord dresses the wound of his people and heals the bruises his blows have left.” (Is.30:26). The responsorial Psalm prays, “Happy are all who hope in the Lord.” (Ps.146:18). The Gospel suggests that God is looking for someone like St. Francis Xavier to go and preach the Gospel to every nook and corner of the world. God’s harvest is ready yet the servants are few to gather. We all need to pray for the missionaries who have gone out of their way for the Lord and for the Gospel. Let us not confine ourselves to serve our own and our kind. Let us set forth to the poorest of the poor. The hunger for God in the human souls are increasing day by day. Are we willing to feed the souls? “As you go, proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.” (Mt.9:8). May you have a good day.