Saint Charles Lwanga and companions, pray for us

Readings: 1^st: 2 Tm 1:1-3. 6-12; Ps: 122; Gos: Mc 12:18-27

This brief reflection was written by Rev. Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp. He is a Catholic Priest and a Member of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers and Brothers (Spiritans). He is currently working with the Spiritan International Group of Puerto Rico &  Dominican Republic. He is the Administrator of Parroquia La Resurrección del Senor, Canovanas and the Chancellor of the Diocesis of Fajardo-Humacao, Puerto Rico. For more details and comments contact him on: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, cancilleriadfh@gmail.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com.

Today, the church honors saint Charles Lwanga and his companions. Together, they are popularly known as the Ugandan Martyrs.

They were 22 young men who bore witness with there blood and life for Christ. They are the first martyrs of Sub-Saharan Africa and true witnesses of the Christian faith.

Charles Lwanga, was baptized in November 1885, a year before his death, He was also a catechist and a young leader. He was the chief of the royal attendants.

He instructed his friends in the Catholic Faith and personally baptized other young attendants, whom he inspired and encouraged to remain chaste and faithful.

He protected his young companions them from the immoral acts and homosexual demands of the wicked ruler. In 1886, he was martyred with a group of Catholic and Anglican royal attendants at outside the capital, Kampala.

In today’s Gospel, the Sadducees came to ask a question about resurrection. It is a controversial theme, which caused serious disagreement between the Sadducees and the Pharisees.

The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection. So, they came to Jesus to criticize and to ridicule faith in the Resurrection. They presented a fictitious case of a woman who married seven times and died without having any child.

However, Christ knew their evil plot and trap. Again, he proved that he was wiser than them. He opened their eyes to their own Ignorance, and they in shame

Constantly, we encounter situations that question the core values of our faith. The church teaches that homosexual acts are evil acts. Saint Charles Lwanga and his companions refused to be part of it and stood firm until death.

The resurrection of the dead is at the center of the Christian faith. Christ defended it. So, let us pray that we too may be able to defend our faith even in the most difficult moments of life.

Saint Charles Lwanga and companions, pray for us.

Peace be with you all!

Maranatha!