During the fourth week of Ordinary Time, the readings continue to reflect the themes of encouragement to faith communities and challenges to embrace what is new so that we may maintain what is sacred. Being open to the presence of God in uncertain times figure prominently. Please consider writing your own responses to the readings or reflection questions below, or to reply to other peoples’ contributions. Also, if you know of a person, either religious or lay person, who has modeled the Xaverian way, and wish to share their story, please feel free to add to the comments section. 

Hospitality, because it is a practice that invites connection, is a disposition that helps remind us of the presence of God in our midst. Being open to others requires us to be present, and to drop our pretenses. We may be inspired by God to build structures and inspire crowds, but we should never underestimate the power in giving our undivided attention to the people in our midst, including those we do not know well. The Letter to the Hebrews underscores this point with the famous quote about having “unknowingly entertained angels.” In the Xaverian tradition there have been many powerful witnesses to this underrated skill, including lay women and men. They have and continue to demonstrate the lasting connections that can take place when we have the will to stop and be available, fully present to those we are blessed to encounter in our daily walks of life.

(Painting below of “Abraham’s Hospitality” by Marc Chagall)

Here are the readings for Friday, February 7 from the Letter to the Hebrews and the Gospel of Mark.

Reflect on pages 10 and 11 of the Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers.

(Photo below of Rev. Mother Facundina, staff member at Mount Saint Joseph High School, with tribute from the 1960 yearbook, The Tower)

(Above photo of Mrs. Judy Byron, Mount Saint Joseph High School Library 1987-2018)

Today we feature two powerful witnesses to the Xaverian way who worked at Mount Saint Joseph High School-Rev. Mother Facundina and Mrs. Judy Byron. They worked alongside Xaverian Brothers and lay faculty providing extraordinary care and service to the students who walked the halls or entered the library. We invite you to read the tribute to Mother Facunida from the 1960 MSJ yearbook shown above. In the 2018 yearbook, dedicated to Mrs. Byron, she was remembered as “a faithful, steadfast, and compassionate member of our school community, who for decades has arrived early and stayed late at our library to serve and minister to literally thousands of young men during their time at the Mount.” As we read the passages from the Scriptures and the Fundamental Principles, consider how the lives of these exceptional women perpetuated the Xaverian Charism we are called to embrace.