Both the First Reading and the Gospel point to the qualities which made the life of Francis Xavier so special. Once he arrived on the west coast of India he put himself totally at the service of the people among whom he worked. He was consumed with a desire that every single person should come to know Jesus Christ and the love of God that came through Jesus. Because of this, he travelled incredible distances to bring the Good News to people from India to Japan in circumstances that are hard for us to imagine today. We are the beneficiaries of his work. The Gospel hints at the extraordinary things which happened to him and through him as a missionary. We may not travel as far as Francis did but we have exactly the same calling and responsibility to share the Gospel with all those we meet and especially with those who have not yet heard it. To give to others what we have received.