Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Mission Accomplished (Truly)

The scene for today's Gospel is the Last Supper.
Jesus and the apostles are gathered around the table, and Jesus is praying aloud to the Father.
He says he's going to his glory.
We know where he's going, he's going to his crucifixion.
How can he call that his glory?

It's his glory because it marks his successful completion of his mission.
It marks his absolute obedience to God's will.

In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul is summarizing his mission.
Those reflections on mission and obedience are very appropriate for today,
As the Church remembers St Charles Lwanga and his young companions.
They were martyred nearly a hundred and thirty years ago.
Charles was a member of King Mwanga's royal court in Uganda.
He was only 25, but had recently become the leader of a group of about 200 Christians.
He had also recently been placed in charge of all the king's young pages.
Both promotions were due to the king having killed Charles' predecessor.

The king became increasingly leery of Christians and foreign missionaries.
And ordered Charles and the Christian pages to renounce their faith.
When they refused he condemned them all to death—by burning at the stake.
The group included a twenty two Catholics and Anglicans, all 13 to 25 years old.

Despite the torture and death awaiting them, Charles and his companions held to their faith
They were all recent converts to Christianity, but they understood.
They could glorify God and themselves by remaining true to that faith.
And their martyrdom would draw others and guide others to glorify God.
This had suddenly become their mission.
And we're still talking about them today.
We still marvel at their courage to burn at the stake rather than deny their faith.

There's little chance that we'll ever find ourselves faced with martyrdom.
But others still are today.
Like Miriam Ibrihim, sentenced to death under Shaira law in Sudan.
For refusing to denounce her Christian faith.
The Sudanese government is under pressure from world leaders to set her free.
But, so far, both she and the government remain on a path to her martyrdom.

We all have our missions.
They include much joy, but they also include some trials and difficulties.
We all have our crosses to carry.
They're real, they're painful, but they become lighter when we compare them to Jesus's cross.
And when we look at the examples given us by the martyrs, we're encouraged.
If they could endure all that to follow the will of God,
Surely I can do the things he's calling me to do.

Our burdens become lighter still when we balance them against the reward of our mission.
Eternal life.


Tuesday, 7th Week of  Easter
Jn 17:1-11          Read this Scripture @usccb.org

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