+(Intro) This morning we remember St Charles Lwanga and his companions who died in Uganda for their faith. To prepare ourselves let us be mindful of our sins and failings in God’s sight.
(After the gospel) Our gospel today from St John presents us with the prayer of Jesus while with his disciples at the Last Supper. Jesus speaks of glorifying the Father on earth by accomplishing the work that the Father gave him to do. In letting himself be scourged and crucified, Jesus saw himself giving glory to his heavenly Father.
On June 3rd, 1886, Charles Lwanga at the age of 26, was to be burnt alive. Lwanga said to the Guardian who arranged this “It is as if you are pouring water on me. Please repent and become a Christian like me.” Twelve Catholic men and boys and nine Anglicans were then burnt alive. Charles Lwanga opposed the king of Uganda in his sexual abuse of young boys at the time and paid for it with his life.
God is glorified in everyone who truly seeks to carry out God’s will in his or her life in whatever they do. We are all being asked to enter into this mystery that we celebrate in whatever we do all day long. We can be assured that by doing so we are giving glory to a most loving Father.
Acts 20:17-27; John 17:1-11a