Saint Charles Lwanga (1860-1887) was a young African martyr who was killed during the persecution of Christians in Uganda by King Mwanga II. Charles was a page at the royal court and was known for his kindness, humility, and devotion to his faith. He was martyred along with 21 companions, including 20 young men who were burned at the stake or beheaded for their refusal to renounce their faith. Saint Charles and his brothers were brutally executed for not renouncing their faith and conceding to the malicious and despicable sin of unnatural impurity. The king, deceived and inspired by Satan to try to force these children and young men to submit to his lustful decrees, through he was all-powerful, that no one could resist him, and little did he know he was but a pawn in the gruesome hands of the master-deceiver.
Their martyrdom was a powerful witness to the faith, and how God gives his children strength to withstand even the most presumptuous sins of their oppressors’ pride, making them warriors of courage and purity and all that is holy and good, so that they came to be considered one of the most significant examples of Christian martyrdom in the 20th century. They were canonized as saints in 1964.
In the first reading, St. Peter writes to encourage his readers to grow in their faith by adding virtue to it, knowledge to their virtue, self-control to their knowledge, and so on. He emphasizes that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness through a knowledge of God, yet that this knowledge will serve no great value unless it translates into virtuous living. It reminds us that our faith is not just about
believing certain truths, but also about living out those truths in our daily lives especially when things get difficult like it did for Saint Charles and his fellow warriors in the faith, who chose death, rather than to offend the God of goodness who is, and whom they knew to be “our Father in heaven” through unnatural lusts inspired by His enemy.
Today, we know through our exorcists, for example, how Satan and the demons he commands, have been assaulting the Church, the sons and daughters of God, with this repugnant sin and how scandalously rampant he has made it become even among our clergy. In fact, what better way to get God’s children to give up on him and stop yearning for his life-giving word and forfeit the reception of the treasure beyond all treasures in the Eucharist, in receiving his precious Body and Blood, then by scandalizing these little ones through the clergy? Make no mistake, this has been a full out war, from the beginning of time, against God, by an angel who mysterious coveted what was not his to have, nor even to desire, and who is now intensifying his efforts knowing his time keeps continually ticking away. Think about it. If Satan wanted to attack the Church, would this not be his most perfect strategy?
And so his minions, and his subscribers who were enticed by the allurements of communism and freemasonry, plotted in this way. It is historically factual and precisely documented, that inspired by the father of deception himself, to enter into the Church, grow their numbers, groom their adherents, allow them to commit heinous sin, and keep it hidden intentionally until the perfect moment—the designated time in which unleashing this spiritual, diabolical, nuclear bomb, through its revelation, would so scandalize the faithful and cause them to abandon their faith in God, that the Church would be, in their mind, defeated.
But they forget Saint Michael. They forget the Queen of Angels and Martyrs. They forget the love of the Martyrs, who have a power greater than any evil that even the most powerful of all fallen angels can wield. Nothing will ever be able to overcome the omnipotence of God’s love.
In the gospel for today, Jesus tells the parable of the wicked tenant farmers, who refuse to pay rent to their owner, a nobleman. When the nobleman sends his servants to collect the rent, they are beaten and mistreated. The passage concludes with Jesus' statement that "the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone" (Mark 12:10).
This passage is often seen as a commentary on the relationship between God and humanity. The wicked tenant farmers represent humanity's rebellion against God, while the nobleman represents God's sovereignty and generosity. The parable highlights the importance of obedience and respect for God's authority, but it also has undertones of that more sinister voice lurking beneath the decision-making of those who choose evil.
The reference to the cornerstone is significant, as it is a metaphor for Jesus himself, who was rejected by many under the influence of his immortal enemy—Lucifer.
As we reflect on these passages, then, we are reminded of the importance of living a virtuous life, rooted in our faith so as to put this malicious foe to flight. As Saint James instructs us: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” 4:7.
The martyrdom of Saint Charles Lwanga and his companions is a powerful reminder of the cost of discipleship and the importance of standing up for our faith in the face of adversity and diabolical attack.
But through the Gospel, we are also reminded that God's sovereignty is not limited by human or angelic rebellion or disobedience. Despite our failures and shortcomings, God remains faithful and generous, offering us salvation through Jesus Christ.
I would encourage you all, to look up and read the inspirational story of these marvellous African martyrs who have so much to teach us when it comes to integrity, perseverance, courage and purity, all for the love of God and what he loves. May we draw inspiration from them to live out our faith with courage, conviction, and virtue so that the Lord will give us the strength when our moments of trial arrive.
Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs, and Saints Charles and companion martyrs, pray for us. Amen.
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