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
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