2.   ACTIVE CHARITY!  The compassion of the stretcher-bearers was not limited to pious thoughts, clichés or simply pious platitudes but their compassion moved them to action to help  remedy the plight of their suffering friend. Question:  Is your love simply words and
lip-service or is it translated into concrete actions?  Remember the words of Jesus at the end of the Sermon on the Mount:  “Not all those who say Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of God, but those who do the will of my heavenly Father.”

3.   FAITH AND BELIEF.  Indeed charity—supernatural love for God and neighbor- is the greatest of all virtues for we will be judged on love. However, in order of action faith comes before charity. Clearly we cannot love what we do not know! Therefore, these friends of the paralytic must have either seen Jesus, heard Him preach, witnessed one or more of His miracles or simply heard of Jesus. But in any case, they placed firm faith in the power of Jesus to heal their friend.   They had the faith that can move the mountains.  Question
and challenge!  In this year of faith, have you made a concerted effort to grow in your own faith and taken the necessary means to accomplish this goal and objective? If so, keep climbing! If not, why not start today!

4.   STRENUOUS EFFORT AND SACRIFICE.   The athletes have a saying:  “No pain no gain!”  A classical “Rock n’ Roll” group of the 60’s was named: “Blood, Sweat and tears”. Without exerting energy and effort, our own blood, sweat and tears, then little will be accomplished. These friends, the stretcher-bearers, had to carry the dead-weight of their friend. No van, car, bus, helicopter or subway service! Those were tough days! Maybe they had to travel a mile or two. The Gospel does not specify the distance. However, very possible it may have been that these friends ended up with blisters on their hands and maybe popped and bloody blisters on their palms of their hands. Remember the hands of the crucified Savior and Redeemer, Jesus the Lord!  Question and challenge: Are you willing to walk the extra mile, to undergo the pain, to offer your own blood sweat and tears to glorify God and to save souls and to work out your own sanctification and salvation?  Our God is a loving God but He will always challenge us to give more each day!  Why not accept the challenge?  

5.   TENACITY, PERSISTENCE AND PERSEVERANCE.  When confronted with a huge obstacle— namely, the house where Jesus was teaching was packed to the gills— there was no way to maneuver their paralyzed friend through the multitude.  Easily defeated they could have decided to give up the pursuit of Jesus, thrown in the towel and disheartened and discouraged returned their paralyzed friend home just as he was. Not on your life for these courageous troopers! Come hell or high water, they were determined to attain their goal and objective: to meet Jesus and attain the cure and healing of their friend. These men had the attitude of St. Teresa of
Avila: a determined determination to never give up!!!!   Question and challenge: When confronted with obstacles in your path, detours in your way, contradictions and thorns along the route, do you easily give up and simply throw in the towel? Why not make a
serious examination of conscience on this point! Remember the words of Saint James: “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials. For you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)   

6.   CREATIVITY!   Not only were the faithful friends not daunted and sidetracked to attain their object— the total healing of their friend
the paralytic—but they utilized one of the most original, creative indeed humorous tactics to meet Jesus. They decided to climb on top of the roof of the house, move the tiles and lower him down to Jesus. Wow!!!  Question and challenge! Blessed Pope John Paul II,   ushering us into the new millennium, challenged all of us to become missionaries, apostles and to take efforts to evangelize in this “Springtime of grace”.  Furthermore, the saintly pope challenged us to be open to “Apostolic creativity”.  This means, that we must be open to the breath of the Holy Spirit who breaths where He wills and be ready to utilize new, creative and modern means to preach the word of God to the entire human race. (Mt 28). Are you willing to drop your nets into the sea, to go fishing in new waters and pursue the lost sheep in a new and original way that the Holy Spirit may inspire you? Follow the saints and be courageous!

7.   CRUSH HUMAN RESPECT!   The faithful friends could have easily been criticized for their “unorthodox” strategy and tactics. Nonetheless, they could care less!  Their love, compassion, determination, sincerity and good will would not be thwarted but implemented, despite the possible objection of the populace! Question and challenge!  Are you a “People-pleaser” or a “God-pleaser”? Are your actions motivated by human respect and a hidden desire to receive accolades and applause by people or are the actions motivated by the Ignation A.M.D.G. — All for the Greater honor and glory of God!  Check and examine your hidden designs and
intentions; where do they lie?   

8.   VICTORY!  After all the time, effort, struggles,
setbacks, apparent contradictions, the friends of the paralytic, the stretcher
bearers, attained their final objective to encounter Jesus. Rejoicing over the
faith and love of these men and the faith and suffering of the paralytic, Jesus
—-always overflowing in goodness—bestows on the man a double blessing! First,
Jesus heals him of his spiritual paralysis—another name for sin. Then, Jesus proceeds
to heal his body, thereby restoring to the limbs of the paralytic healing,
strength and mobility! Question and challenge! Are you aware of the reality of
your own paralysis? Maybe you can walk, hop, skip and run; however, you (as
well as the world at large) all suffer from moral paralysis which means that we
are sinners!  Why not approach Jesus the
Healer this very day through a good confession so that Jesus can heal and
strengthen your limbs so that you can leap with joy in His presence!

9.   JOY AND REJOICING! The friends lived out the Pauline expression:
“Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep!”   The paralytic’s joy had no bounds; likewise
the joy of the friends exploded! Question and challenge? Has jealousy or envy ever
consumed you over the success of your brother, sister, relative, friend or
neighbor? If so, repent! Live out: “Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep
with those who weep!”   

2.   OBEDIENCE.   The Holy Father asked Ignatius to send some
of his followers from the Company of Jesus to India and the Far East and
Francis Xavier obeyed. Obedience to God, the Pope, and the Church is always a
true sign of holiness by which God blesses with abundant graces.  “Lord, not my will but yours be done!”  (Prayer of Jesus to the Father in the Garden
of Olives).

3.   LOVE FOR POVERTY. Upon arriving in
India, Xavier’s heart overflowed with love for the poor of the country. His
love knew no bounds. 
Identification!   Instead of
seeking out comfortable lodgings and ease, Xavier decided to live with the
poor, sleep like the poor, eat and drink with the poor, and become poor
himself.  Jesus’s first Beatitude
exemplifies this attitude of heart: “Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 5: 3).

4.   LOVE FOR THE CHILDREN.   Jesus taught love for children.  “Let
the children come to me for such is the kingdom of heaven.”  Francis Xavier loved the children and they
loved him. He taught them their catechism, as well as their prayers. Such was
the love the children had for him that barely did he have time to say his
prayers or even eat!
                      

5.   APOSTOLIC CREATIVITY.  Xavier was a genius, as teacher and
missionary. As a tool for memorization of the catechism, Xavier made use of the
song. In simple verse and rhyme Xavier taught the children the basics of
catechism. Domino effect!  Then the
children would return home and sing the catechism thereby teaching their own
parents. Pope John Paul II exhorts followers of Christ to be opened to the Holy
Spirit and new apostolic creativity and initiatives.  Jesus said to Nicodemus that the spirit blows
where He wills. Like Xavier let us be open to the wind-direction of the Holy
Spirit and follow!
                    

6.   BAPTISM!  It all starts with the sacrament of Baptism.
After instructions, Francis Xavier would baptize in the hundreds leading to the
thousands! At the end of his day at times he could no longer hold up his arm
any longer due to the huge numbers of Baptisms he would do.

7.   ORDER THE DISORDER/ORGANIZATION.   This great saint after finishing his time in
one place, would leave well-formed catechists to carry on with the mission of
forming the people in the community. HELPERS & LAY LEADERS!  Now more than ever zealous priests need
zealous lay-leaders to help to carry on the task of evangelization.   “The harvest is rich but the laborers are
few.”        
              

8.   INCULTURATION. While travelling to
Japan, Xavier had to learn the social mores and customs of another country. In
this case dressed in rags caused the Japanese Emperor revulsion. As St. Paul
says, “I become all things to all men so as to win as many to Christ as
possible.” Xavier donned the most elegant clothes fashionable and gave gifts to
the Emperor, thereby winning the Emperor’s friendship and opening up the door
to the preaching of the Gospel message in Japan.

9.   PRAYER AND PENANCE.  It is impossible to find a saint who did not
take the “Two-P’s” seriously—  PRAYER & PENANCE!   At the end of his exhausting day, Xavier spent
hours in front of the Most Blessed Sacrament, praising the Lord, thanking the
Lord and imploring for the sanctification and salvation of the people God
placed in his path. The consolation that God sent  Francis Xavier during his prayer was so intense
(very much like that of his contemporary St. Philip Neri) that he begged the
Lord “basta”— “enough” of the consolation lest he die of its intensity! May
Xavier attain for us the fire of intensity in our prayers! Penance?  He slept very little so as to accompany the
Lord and offer himself as victim for the salvation of souls.

10. APOSTOLIC ZEAL.  The favorite prayer of Xavier was “GIVE ME
SOULS!”  Another saint who had a similar motto was Saint John Bosco whose motto was posted on the wall of his
office: “Give me souls and take all the rest away.” St. John of the Cross
asserts: “Authentic charity is manifested by apostolic zeal.” Indeed if we truly
love God then we should love what God loves— the salvation of immortal
souls.   In the Office of Readings for
the Feast of  St. Francis Xavier, in a
letter written to St. Ignatius, there is a passionate appeal for more workers
to gather in the harvest, specifically reproaching the proud and learned at the
Universities of Europe (especially Paris). 
The words of Xavier explode with apostolic zeal and intense suffering
for the salvation of immortal souls.  
Let us meditate attentively the words of St. Francis Xavier.
                                                                

“Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Christians for one reason:
there is nobody to make them Christians. Again and again I have thought of
going round the universities of Europe, especially Paris, and everywhere crying
out like a madman. Riveting the attention of those with more learning than
charity: What a tragedy:  how many souls
are being shut out of heaven and falling into hell, thanks to you! I wish they
would work as hard at this as they do at their books, and so settle their account
with God for their learning and the talents entrusted to them.”  (Office of Readings, Dec. 3,
Feast of St. Francis Xavier)

May the last words of St. Ignatius of Loyola to St. Francis Xavier ignite our hearts to become missionaries in our
modern world in this year of grace, the year of faith— GO SET ALL ON
FIRE!!!   

2.   SILENCE.    Elijah encountered the Lord on the mountain
in silence. Neither the earthquake nor the thunderstorm contained the voice of
the Lord, but the gentle breeze.   In the
Diary of Mercy in my soul, St. Faustina wanted to live fully Advent and made
the proposal to cultivate silence and recollection.  The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI upon his
visit to USA and the seminarians in New York exhorted them to silence so as to
hear the gentle voice of God. Today we are being bombarded by so many alien
voices that distract and even deafen us from hearing the voice of the Holy
Spirit.

3.  PRAYER.  A necessary corollary that follows from silence is prayer.   In Advent we should establish a time, a
place, and form the habit of prayer. Both Advent and Lent being “strong”
Seasons of grace should be times to both prolong and intensify our prayer life.
          

4.   GIVE UP AND FAST FROM SIN.  To conquer sin, bad habits that we have been
dragging with us like a chain for years and inveterate vices  we cannot except through the grace of God and
a strong effort of the will on our part. To fall a slave to sin is easy; just
let yourself go and be led and dictated by your passions. Jesus calls sin  slavery.  
Prayer is the indispensable remedy to overcome any sin in any time any
place and any circumstance. Let us meditate on the words from the Catechism of
the Catholic Church on the power and liberating force of prayer.

“Prayer is a vital necessity. Proof from the contrary is no less
convincing: if we do not allow the Spirit to lead us, we fall back into the
slavery of sin. How can the Holy Spirit be our life if our heart is far from
him?  
Nothing is equal to prayer, for what is impossible it makes possible,
what is difficult is easy…. For it is impossible, utterly impossible for the
man who prays eagerly and invokes God ceaselessly to sin.

Those who pray are certainly saved; those who do not pray are certainly
damned.”  (CCC #2744)

5.   SACRIFICES/ ACTS OF PENANCE.   Jesus said that some devils are expelled
only by prayer and fasting. Jesus gave eloquent testimony to this by praying
and fasting 40 days in the desert.  In
1917 Our Lady of Fatima told the three children, Jacinta Francisco and Lucia,
the importance of prayer and offering sacrifices for the conversion of poor
sinners. Why not make a small sacrifice at the table for love of God and for
the conversion of sinners?  Give up
cookies, drink water rather than soda, avoid putting condiments on your meal,
or even try to eat a little bit less— all of these sacrifices offered to God
with great love can be instrumental in saving souls.  St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us that the
salvation of one soul is worth more than the whole created universe!

6.   HOLY MASS AND HOLY COMMUNION IN
ADVENT.  By far the greatest act we can
carry out is to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and to receive
reverentially and devoutly Holy Communion. Why not propose this Advent to come
to Mass and Holy Communion and bring as many family members as possible to
Jesus, Emmanuel—God with us!  Actually,
mystically and sacramentally every day can be “Christmas” because Christmas is
Jesus being born and Holy Communion Jesus is born in the depths of the pious
soul!   “O come let us adore Him, Jesus
the Lord!”             

7.   CLEAN THE BARN OF YOUR OWN SOUL.  Jesus was born in a cold, dirty, smelly,
musty, hard stable which was a refuge of animals. Our soul can be compared to
this stable. How pleasing to Jesus it would be to born in the clean stable of
your heart.   Why not clean the cobwebs,
mud and dirt and foul smell from your interior stable of Bethlehem— your
heart and soul—by preparing assiduously for and making the best confession of
your life.  The words of Isaiah the prophet can truly motivate us: “Though your sins be red as scarlet I will make
them as white as the snow.” St. Jerome willingly offered the Child Jesus many
gifts for His Birthday— books, prayers and penances, which were all pleasing
to Jesus. However Jesus responded to the saint and said you are lacking one
thing that I would like: give me your sins! The name Jesus means “Savior”; He
came to save us from our sins.
                                

8.   RECONCILIATION AND PEACE. One of the
many titles for Jesus is “The Prince of peace”. 
St Francis of Assisi composed the immortal prayer, “Lord make me a
channel of your peace.”  One of the 8
Beatitudes of Jesus is “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called
the children of God.” (Mt. 5:8). If there is somebody that you have not
forgiven and you are harboring resentment and bitterness and unwilling to
forgive, now is the time to practice the virtue of humility and seek
reconciliation and peace with that person. Jesus warns us that if we are
offering the gift at the altar and we remember that somebody has something
against us then we should leave the gift and be reconciled and then return to
offer the gift.  “Lord, make me a channel
of your peace.”                    

9.   HELP THE POOR.  In some concrete fashion we should feel the compulsion
to help the poor of the world, our community, or parish, or family. Call to
mind the words of Jesus: “I was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick and in
prison…..Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me.”
(Mt 25). Ways to help the poor are countless. Beg the Holy Spirit to enlighten
your mind to see Jesus in the poor and act on the inspiration.  Why not be a Good Samaritan on the Highway of
life?
                             

10.  A DEEPLY MARIAN ADVENT.  No doubt Jesus is the reason for the season! However,
Jesus chose Mary to be the means by which He would enter into the world to
carry out our salvation by His Paschal Mystery—Passion, death and
Resurrection. Advent is a truly Marian season. Marian Liturgical Solemnities
and Feasts are not lacking. On Dec 8th the Universal Church
celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. “O Mary conceived
without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee.” The Immaculate Conception
is the patroness of the United States. Furthermore, 4 days later, the church
celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego 4 times in
1531 in Mexico and assured him as well as the whole world of her motherly love
and concern for all. Why not renew our love, devotion and affection for Mary
who is the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church and our Mother.  Undoubtedly a practice very dear to the heart
of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the recitation of the most Holy Rosary. In Advent
the Joyful mysteries take pride of place. Why not before dinner unite the
family together around the family sanctuary and pray the Rosary.  “The family that prays together stays
together.”

2.   PRAYER.  The efficacy of apostolic success is in
direct proportion to the depth of one’s prayer life. Prayer is communication
and union with God.  Men of prayer
communicate God to others.  The Apostles
had a powerful experience with God in those 9 days.

3.   NOVENA/PROLONGED PRAYER.   Short, distracted, superficial prayer is not
sufficient to form true apostles of Christ. It is necessary longer blocks of
time to go deep in this encounter with Christ.

4.  PENANCE.   In addition to prayer the Apostles dedicated themselves to penance by means of
fasting.   Jesus initiated His Public
life by a 40 day retreat in which he prayed and fasted and conquered the
devil.  Jesus stated clearly:  “Some devils can be expelled only by prayer
and fasting.” One must empty himself of self and sensuality to allow for the
Divine invasion.

2.   SCRIPTURAL KNOLWEDGE OF THE EUCHARIST.  Read slowly and prayerfully Jn. 6:22-71.   In the 6th Chapter of the Gospel
of John Jesus works two extraordinary miracles— the multiplication of the
loaves and then the walking on water. 
Then, while preaching in the synagogue of Caparnaum, Jesus delivers one of
the greatest discourses in the history of the world:  “The Bread of Life discourse”.   The essence of His message was a preparation
for what would happen at the Last Supper– the institution of the Priesthood
and the Holy Eucharist.  Jesus delivers the “Bread of Life” discourse.   The heart of the message is the following: 
“I am the bread of life; whoever eats my body and drinks my blood will
have everlasting life.”   The meaning!  At Mass, the Bread of Life
becomes present at the moment of consecration— “Take and eat this is my Body;
take and drink this is my blood. Do this in memory of me.”   Holy Communion shortly follows when Jesus
unites Himself to the hungering soul in the most profound and intimate way.    If done frequently, with growing faith and
fervor, the promise of Jesus is eternal life in heaven.  Let us express our gratitude by meditating
prayerfully the “Bread of Life” discourse and yearning for the Bread of Life.”

3.   SPIRITUAL COMMUNION.   Even outside the context of Holy Mass we
should be longing for union with the Eucharistic Lord. This can be done as
frequently as the heart desires by the making of “Spiritual Communions”. How?
Simple!  Pray as such: “Lord Jesus I
cannot receive you now in the Eucharist, but come now spiritually.”  Then praise and thank the Lord Jesus in the
depths of your soul.  Frequent Spiritual
Communions are efficacious means to keep the fire of the Lord burning within
the hearths of our interior lives!

4.   VISITING THE EUCHARISTIC LORD.   Jesus is the prisoner of love truly present
behind the door of the Tabernacle.  He
said, “I was in prison and you came to visit me.” At times and in many places
Jesus is alone, lonely, abandoned and cold in the Tabernacle. At times we all
suffer from loneliness and welcome a cheerful visitor.  With Jesus it is the same!  Why not make it a habit of visiting Him
frequently; the Sacred Heart of Jesus will rejoice.

5.   GENUFLECTION.  Cordial greetings differ according to culture. A hug, an embrace, a kiss
or a warm handshake express ways of greeting friends.   With Jesus the greeting is different. The
reason?  He is King of Kings, Lord of
Lords; He is God.  GENUFLECTION.   How done? The right knee all the way down to
the ground every time you walk in front of the Most Blessed Sacrament.  “O Sacrament most Holy O Sacrament divine,
all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine.”

6.   HOLY HOUR IN FRONT OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.   “The Hour of Power”.  (Fulton Sheen).  Archbishop Fulton Sheen attributes his success as preacher and radio-tele- evangelist to one thing— His union with
Jesus Christ in the daily Holy Hour.  
Sheen, already “Venerable” made no bones about it.  In his many retreats that he gave to priests
and Bishops at the end of his life, he insisted on one proposal from the
retreat: the urgency of the daily Holy Hour.  
This superb communicator commented that in his 50 years as priest and
then as Bishop, he never missed even for one day his daily Holy Hour— “The
hour of power.”   If you want to have
more spiritual power in your life, visit Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament
and make your own “Hour of Power!”
                       

7.   HOLY MASS.  Of course by far the greatest way that we can
express our love and gratitude for Jesus present in the Eucharist is to attend
the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as frequently as possible. If possible, we should
aim at daily Mass.  As the Sun shines
down at midday radiating light and heat, may Jesus be the sun that rises in our
hearts every day through attendance at Mass and an ever more by fervent
reception of the Bread of Life.

8.   THANKSGIVING AFTER RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION.  At a thanksgiving meal it is
almost unthinkable to imagine the guests “eating and running!” Unfortunately,
it is all too common to eat the “Bread of Life” and then run or even rush as if
there were a fire.  The most precious
moments in our week or day or in our life should be the moments right after
having received Jesus in Holy Communion.  
That is the time to tell Him thanks, that we love Him, need Him, want
Him to stay with us at all times in time and for all eternity. How many
precious graces are lost because we are in a hurry when we should rest with
Him.  “Come to me all of you…. Rest in
me… I am meek and humble of heart… (Mt. 11:28-230)

9.   THANKSGIVING THROUGH SHARING. Now more than ever is it a time to be a missionary. Pope Benedict XVI insists in
many of his teachings that Mass must transform us into missionaries. This means
we should feel the imperative urging of the Holy Spirit to bring others to the
Eucharistic Lord Jesus present in Holy Mass and the Eucharistic. Like St.
Andrew who felt the call to bring others to Jesus— starting with his brother
St. Peter— we should feel the same urgency!