Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga & the Martyrs of Uganda

For this last week of Easter time, we come to the Christ praying with and over his disciples before his passion, death, and resurrection and their final instructions. Importantly, through foot washing and giving his body and blood to them, Christ set an example to fulfill the Eucharistic mystery and remind them of their witness at length.

Christ summarizes and explains through this “Farewell Discourse” a long list of loving and fulfilling God’s dreams. Today we are called to live and witness the great gift of Eucharist, Christ love. Paul also fulfilled this service, reflecting on the last days of his ministry and reminding his friends of the witness they are to carry on by passing on the faith.

Today’s church remembers special missionaries who also took from Christian heritage a witness handed on to them. Murdered for living, believing, and teaching this important way of being, they inspire us still. At only 26, Charles Lwanga, a major domo and chief page to the Ugandan King, plus other members of the Royal Court, by their very existence and living their faith, threatened the well-being of this insecure and sexually abusive ruler. They stayed strong to their faith and, as we know, shared in the blood of Christ.

Today, we are in communion with current martyrs, dying because they believe and want to carry on the mission of living and doing the Christian faith. We are fortunate not to have such strong worries of martyrdom around us. We should never forget that our reception of the Blood of Christ helps us enter into this mystery and strengthens us for bold faithfulness.

What must I do to enter into a deeper communion with Christ and share that mission with others? Christ’s farewell was an impetus to start something new. May that lead to a fresh Pentecost for ordinary times.

Prayer

O Loving God, trusting in the Holy Spirit, we live our faith and witness our faithful loving. May we serve you as your devoted disciples, washing others’ feet, praying for catechists and other church ministers who serve in dangerous regions of our world to hand on the Gospel May we, too, be your faithful ones until our death, knowing that your love will strengthen us in our challenges and trials, through Christ our Lord.