Feast of Saint Charles Lwanga and the Martyrs of Uganda

Good morning. The Gospel reading this morning brings to mind thoughts of pain and joy every mother can relate to. Jesus relates that in our present life we experience pain and disappointments, but that in the next life we will be with Him and we will know only joy. He relates this to being much like the joy a mother experiences following the pains of birthing. Once the new born baby is in her arms all thoughts of the pain are gone and she experiences nothing but joy at the birth of her child. So it is for each one of us, we journey this world and we experience moments of pain and disappointment and uncertainty, but the awareness of Christ’s presence in our lives and the promise of eternal joy offers us joy and relief to our questions. Our belief in the resurrection allows us to find joy amongst the sorrows of this life. As parents we offer a glimpse, a witness to the love of Our Creator through our sacrifice of self and the ever present joy of our loving embrace. It is through a child’s relationship with their parents that they come to develop an awareness of God as love. Archbishop Chaput describes the family as being “a kind of sign or sacrament — in human experience — of who God is.” Much as a child comes to find their way through a painful moment knowing that their parent will be there to make it better, they come to know God in a like way. A child’s faith in their parent offers assurance that all will be well, and so we too have faith, faith that defies all human reason, that God is there for us. It is through our loving parental presence that our children come to appreciate Jesus in their lives and establish a sense of joy and hope that serves to guide them through the temporary uncertainties and pains of this life. Jesus assures us in today’s Gospel from John that “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” As Jesus brings joy into our lives, may we bring joy and the awareness of God’s love into the lives of our children. Jesus, help us to bring an awareness of your love and joy into the lives of our children. Like the Martyrs of Uganda whose lives we commemorate today may we all come to know the joy of your presence in our lives, now and in the resurrection. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good lives, gifts, and works of Saint Charles Lwanga and the Martyrs of Uganda.