Today’s feast commemorates the martyrdom of Charles Lwanga and 21 other young men who converted to Catholicism and who stood up to tribal leaders in Uganda in African who wanted them to commit moral acts. Charles helped instruct the other men in the Catholic faith while he was a catechumen himself. He was burned to death on June 3, 1886. He and his companions were canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1964. There was a group of young men who had joined the Anglican Church who were martyrs at this same time.
We hear about Paul’s ministry in Ephesus today, about how he is instructing the presbyters in this place before he moves on in his missionary travels. Paul tells them that he is returning to Jerusalem, guided by the Holy Spirit, not knowing what awaits him there. He speaks about the trials, hardships, and persecutions he has endured, but in the midst of all that, he has stayed steadfast in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We, too, will experiences trials and sufferings on our journey of faith. Perhaps not the martyrdom to which Charles Lwanga and companions met. But whatever sufferings confront us, our faith and the guidance of the Holy Spirit will help us endure.
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