St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs

The other day, I made a sketch of my next carving project:

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone…” Mark 12:10

Just as Jesus was rejected and scorned, many missionaries through the ages have been tortured, mistreated and even murdered. In Africa, usually a hotbed for martyrdom, the White Fathers (The Society of Missionaries of Africa), established a community of stalwart converts who evangelized with a zeal that outmatched their own. They started evangelizing, instructing and leading new believers that the missionaries could not reach. Many of these young Christians lived and taught in the King’s court.

King Mwanga was no ordinary King. He was a pedophile who preyed on the young men who served him as pages and attendants. The Christians tried to protect these young men from the King’s sexual violence. Joseph Mkasa, a 25 year old Catholic, was the chief steward and was brave enough to confront the King for his actions. He was beheaded and burned in 1885, but not before he proclaimed, “A Christian who gives his life for God is not afraid to die." 

The King then ordered the chief page, Charles Lwanga, to take over Mkasa’s duties. Charles indeed took up Mkasa’s unfinished business by having about a hundred cathecumens baptized by the White Fathers. In anger, the King brought his entire court before him, and separated the Christians from the non-Christians, and ordered that the Christians make a 37 mile trek to Namugongo, where they would be executed. The White Fathers witnessed the courage and joy of these young converts as they marched to their deaths. Charles Lwanga was chosen for a private execution and as he was being burnt, said, “It is as if you are pouring water on me. Please repent and become a Christian like me." Today marks the Feast day of St. Charles Lwanga and his companion martyrs. 

In spite of the danger, men and women still go out of their comfort zones to evangelize. Usually, they feel God calling them to preach the good news, they are impelled by an urge bigger than themselves, stronger than their fear. How about us? We are also instructed by Jesus to “go out into the world and preach the good news” (Mark 16:15). We need not fear being tortured or mutilated or beheaded. But are we able to obey Jesus even if we will be rejected or ridiculed just like our Saviour?