MEMORIAL OF ST. CHARLES LWANGA AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS - 2022

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The Holy Spirit will teach you everything
and remind you of all I have said to you. JN 14:26

ACTS 25:13-21 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Festus brought with him from Jerusalem to Caesarea members of the Sanhedrin who were Paul's accusers so he could make a defense against their accusations. Like all politicians, Festus straddles the fence between Jerusalem and Rome as he seeks to gain personal leverage by ingratiating himself with Herod Agrippa while toeing the line with Caesar. 

The charge against Paul according to the Jews was blasphemy. Paul's crime was to teach and preach the Resurrection and for this, the members of the Sanhedrin were prepared to kill him. The world over, to this day, the blood of martyrs is spilled by fanatical religious powers prepared to put to death those who preach and teach the Good News with single-minded passion as Paul and so many before him and after him have done.   

Festus, having determined that it was a matter of religious beliefs that got Paul arrested, suggests that he go to Jerusalem to stand trial there. But Paul refused. The Spirit, having made known to him that he was to go to Rome to continue to be Your witness there, opted to be sent there to be tried as he was a Roman citizen. Through all the circumstances of our lives, we can be sure that Your hand guides us and steers us through all life's vicissitudes until You bring us to our eternal home.

In all the years of Paul's imprisonment in Rome, the Holy Spirit was with him inspiring and empowering him as he glorified and magnified You until he was beheaded.

Help us to bear in mind always, Lord, that we are called to be Your witnesses in the world - nothing else matters but that we glorify You and Your Name no matter the consequence. We can trust You to provide us all the grace and courage we need even to the shedding of our blood.

JOHN 21:15-19 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

In today's Gospel passage for our reflection is the dialogue
between You and Peter. You address him personally and all Your words to him are filled s filled with pathos, tenderness, compassion, and mercy. While Peter's responses reveal that he is no longer the man who once spoke carelessly, recklessly, and thoughtlessly making brash promises filled with bravado. His own personal, colossal failure at a crunch moment brought him face to face with the reality of his own weaknesses and he is distraught, ashamed, and guilt-ridden. 

Beloved, Your justice is always tempered with mercy and for this, we are truly grateful. Peter was chosen for a special mission from the first and God's choice was to stand despite his failure but justice had to be served first. He denied You three times and he had to make a three-fold declaration of love in order for You to forgive, heal, and restore him as the leader of the Twelve.  

Three times You called him by name saying, 

‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?’ He answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He replied, ‘Yes, Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Look after my sheep.’ Then he said to him a third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was upset that he asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and said, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’

Peter and the rest were given a glimpse into what he would experience as the Chief Shepherd of the flock. The knowledge of how his days would end would be ever before him as he took charge and led the nascent Church after Your Ascension into heaven and Pentecost. It would be a constant reminder to him that no matter what happened to him all that was necessary was for him to follow You loyally, faithfully, and humbly to the end. 

‘I tell you most solemnly,
when you were young
you put on your own belt
and walked where you liked;
but when you grow old
you will stretch out your hands,
and somebody else will put a belt round you
and take you where you would rather not go.’
In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, ‘Follow me.’

As Your witnesses in the world, Lord, our mission is no different - we are called to give glory to God by our lives and we do this by following You closely on the narrow path that leads to eternal joy with You in the Kingdom of God.