Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial
of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Mm (03rd June, 2017) on the
Gospel and the Memorial
Acts 28:16-20.30-31;
Ps 10:4-5.7. (R. cf. v. 7);
Jn 21:20-25.
King Mutesa of Uganda
peacefully received the White Fathers in 1879. Before long a number of the
young pages in the king’s court had become Catholics. However, on the death of
Mutesa, his son Mwanga, a corrupt man who ritually engaged in pedophilic
practices with the younger pages, took the throne. When he murdered a visiting
Anglican Bishop, his chief page, Joseph Mukasa, a Catholic who went to great
length to protect the younger boys from the king’s lust, denounced the king’s
actions and was beheaded on November 15, 1885. The 25 year old Charles Lwanga,
a man wholly dedicated to the Christian instruction of the younger boys, became
the chief page, and just as forcibly protected them from the king’s advances.
On the night of the martyrdom of Joseph Mukasa, realizing that their own lives
were in danger, Lwanga and some of the other pages went to the White Fathers to
receive baptism. Another 100 catechumens were baptized in the week following
Joseph Mukasa’s death. The following May, King Mwanga learned that one of the
boys was learning catechism. He was furious and ordered all the pages to be
questioned to separate the Christians from the others. The Christians, 15 in all, between the ages
of 13 and 25, stepped forward. They were bound together and taken on a two day
walk to Namugongo where they were to be burned at the stake. However, on the way, Matthias Kalemba, one of
the eldest boys, exclaimed, “God will rescue me. But you will not see how he
does it, because he will take my soul and leave you only my body.” The executioners cut him to pieces and left
him to die alone on the road. On June 3, 1886, the Feast of the Ascension,
Charles Lwanga was separated from the others and burned at the stake. Just
before the flames reached his heart, he looked up and said in a loud voice, “Katonda!
– My God!,” and died. His companions were all burned together the same day all
the while praying and singing hymns until they died. There were 22 protomartyrs
in all and the last, a young man named John Mary, was beheaded by King Mwanga
on January 27, 1887. These martyrs died between November 15, 1885 – January 27,
1887. They were beatified in 1920 and canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1964. St.
Charles Lwanga is the patron saint of African Catholic Youth Action.[1]
Topic: Follow me (Jn
21:22).
Jesus foretold the kind of death by which Peter would glorify
God in yesterday’s gospel. And Peter in today’s gospel asked Jesus about John,
“Lord, what about him?”
Jesus replied him, “If it is my will that he remain until I
come, what is that to you? Follow me!”
Just like Peter, often we are worried about the things that
have nothing to do with our call. It is important to focus on the command,
“Follow me!” On our adherence or disobedience to this lie our safety and
damnation.
The saints we celebrate today focussed on their call and
followed Jesus without counting their loses because they were aware of the
great reward in heaven, cf. 1Cor 2:9.
Let us imitate these saints and focus on our call to follow Jesus.
Bible Reading: Matt 10:34-39.
Thought for today: Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead (Matt 8:22).
Let us pray: Lord, give us the grace to be
faithful to our call to the end – Amen.
Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions –
Pray for us.
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