COLLECT: “O GOD, WHO HAVE MADE THE BLOOD OF MARTYRS THE SEED OF CHRISTIANITY, MERCIFULLY GRANT THAT THE FIELD WHICH IS YOUR CHURCH, WATERED BY THE BLOOD SHED BY SAINTS CHARLES LWANGA AND HIS COMPANIONS, MAY BE FERTILE AND ALWAYS YIELD YOU AN ABUNDANT HARVEST. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
2TiM 1:1-3,6-12; Ps 122:1-2 and Mark 12:18-27.
Today, the Universal Mother Church honours 22 African Martyrs, ranging in age from 13 to 30 years from Uganda. The first martyrs of sub-Saharan Africa. They died in a persecution similar to that of ancient Rome. Most of them had been baptised for only a short time. Charles Lwanga, chief of the royal pagans, was killed with his companions in 1886. “The Martyrs were bound, imprisoned, scourged, racked, burnt, rent, butchered – and they multiplied” (St. Augustine).
St. Paul in the portion of his Second Letter to Timothy is exhorting and encouraging Timothy, the young and timid Bishop to be strong in faith. He should use the qualities of power, love and self-control he had received from God to give testimony to the Gospel, bearing in mind the hardship that would come his way on account of that. Paul however urged Timothy to see him as an example. In the portion of the Gospel of Mark, confronted by the Sadducees with the question of marriage at the resurrection, because they thought that the next life would be like the present, Jesus explained that there are qualitative differences between the present life and the life after this. What happens here will be different from what will happen after this life by the God of the living.
St. Paul has given us three characteristics of being an effective Christian, especially those in leadership positions. These are: power, love and self-control. Anyone, especially any Christian with such characteristics will always do well as a believer. These are given to us by the Holy Spirit who lives in us. If we always follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, our lives will more fully exhibit these characteristics. On the other hand, when we do not follow His promptings, in the face of opposition, trials, persecutions and tribulations, we will not be effective as believers and we will not perform as leaders.
Paul was aware of the fact that Timothy was experiencing great opposition to his message and to himself as a leader. Timothy’s youthful age, his association with Paul and his leadership had come under fire from both believers and nonbelievers. Paul therefore had to write to Timothy to encourage him not to give up, but to be bold and persevere.
One thing that can make us ineffective as believers, and as leaders (both Christian and secular leaders) is intimidation. When we are threatened or frightened for doing the right thing we may in the end recoil, thereby becoming ineffective in whatever we are doing. Timothy was going through intimidation from some Christians and non-Christians alike. Paul encouraged Timothy to go on. We could equally encourage those who cannot do their work effectively or those who cannot practice their faith because of intimidation from others, to go on. Secondly, when we are intimidated because we are doing the right thing, we should seek assistance and support from the Holy Spirit to overcome our fear in order to go on.
Jesus should be our example and model. The Sadducees opposed his teaching about the resurrection, quoting what Moses wrote, if it was truth@ at all. This was a form of intimidation. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, at the end, also quoting what Moses wrote, silenced them. Also, Justine the martyr was vehemently opposed and intimidated as he defended the faith through his treatises. Being filled with the Holy Spirit, and with power, love and self-control, Justin was bold in his defence of the faith. He was eventually martyred during the persecution of Marcus Aurelius. Let us imitate Paul, Justin the martyr and our Lord Jesus Christ when we face opposition and intimidation for our faith and for doing what is right. Stay blessed.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, WEDNESDAY, ON THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES: ‘THE RESURRECTION, THE ASCENSION, THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE ASSUMPTION, AND THE CORRONATION’. (WE PRAY FAITH, HOPE, LOVE OF GOD, GRACE OF A HAPPY DEATH AND TRUST IN MARY’S INTERCESSION) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “WE HAVE RECEIVED THIS DIVINE SACRAMENT, O LORD, AS WE CELEBRATE THE VICTORY OF YOUR HOLY MARTYRS; MAY WHAT HELPED THEM TO ENDURE TORMENT, WE PRAY, MAKE US, IN THE FACE OF TRIALS, STEADFAST IN FAITH AND IN CHARITY. THROUGH CHRIS OUR LORD. AMEN.”
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, Upper West Region, Ghana. (00233-0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.
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