“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus” – Romans 15:5
In Romans we see Christ-like unity, humility and compassion within the church, and as believers we are called to welcome and serve one another, mirroring how Christ himself welcomed all people, regardless of race, religion or socio-economic status.
As members of the Xaverian community we too mirror Christ’s actions as we strive to embody the principles of the Xaverian Charism which includes humility and compassion. From St. Francis Xavier himself to all the brothers who have tirelessly lived the mission for decades, we were given role models of what humility and compassion look like on a daily basis. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, along with their attention to the gospel message, we have schools and institutions that stand as witness to faith in our world today. They know, live, and share their motto “in harmony small things grow.”
Sometimes as human beings we grow tired of doing God’s will, as did the early Christians described in Romans. Yet, “the God of endurance and encouragement” is always there to pick us up, dust us off and send us back out to be missionaries in the world. As a product of a Xaverian education, I am eternally grateful for the endurance and encouragement of my teachers and the brothers; they have helped shape my understanding of the world, as well as my place in it, through their hard work and dedication.
Loving Father, help us to encourage one another to live in harmony, accepting each other as brothers and sisters created by you. May we always be united in faith, strengthened and encouraged by Your divine providence, today and every day.
Nicholas Cerreta