Missionary Discipleship: Go MAKE Disciples of Every Nation

Homily for the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, Patron of the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois

Today we remember St. Francis Xavier, the patron of the Diocese of Joliet. While the church at large will celebrate St. Francis Xavier as a memorial, because he is the patron of this diocese, this day is a feast day for us. The readings focus our attention on St. Francis Xavier’s life as a missionary and the call to evangelization that is incumbent upon all of us as members of this local church. At the same time, we must also focus on the pastoral letter of Bishop Ronald Hicks entitled “MAKE.” The title was taken from the Gospel of St. Matthew in which Jesus commissions the apostles to “make disciples of all nations.”

St. Francis Xavier was a remarkable man who made missionary journeys to India and Japan, and who yearned to also reach China. He is a model of missionary discipleship, which is the message of Bishop Hicks’ pastoral letter. Like St. Paul, St. Francis Xavier was tireless in his zeal to preach the Gospel even when he was exhausted and faced rejection. Paul says he became “all things to all people” so that he might save some. Francis Xavier learned languages, adapted to cultures, and met people where they were. Both Paul and Francis Xavier show that evangelization involves sacrifice, but it brings joy because it shares the life of Christ. Like St. Paul, St. Francis Xavier was not looking for a reward. He is known to have prayed: ““Lord, I love you not because of the heaven you have promised, but because you are my God.”

Bishop Hicks makes some important points in his letter. The commission to make disciples of all nations is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He writes that the pathway for missionary discipleship is built on conversion, confession, and communion – all rooted in prayer. He also makes the point that discipleship is unique to each person, but the common bond is Christ himself. Every Catholic is called to live boldly and share the Gospel. His pastoral letter encourages making a personal plan, sharing stories of faith, and supporting parish initiatives that foster evangelization. Bishop Hicks also invokes the intercession of St. Francis Xavier — patron of the Diocese of Joliet — as a model missionary disciple. “Paul’s “woe to me if I do not preach” and Jesus’ “Go into the whole world” are the very scriptural foundations of the letter. Bishop Hicks challenges the faithful to see themselves as part of this diocesan movement — not just honoring Francis Xavier, but living his missionary spirit in Joliet today.

For those of us who are advanced in age and do not have the energy to strike out on a missionary journey, our role as missionary disciples is primarily accomplished through our prayer for those in our diocese who are taking up the challenge of the bishop’s pastoral letter. At the same time, we can spread the good news of the Gospel whenever we have the opportunity to do so through our correspondence or our conversation with our neighbors. As we celebrate this important feast day for the local church of Joliet, may we all embrace the vocation of missionary discipleship with which our bishop has challenged us.