7th Week of Easter – Tuesday C – Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs

Saint Charles Lwanga was a young page in the court of King Mwanga II of Uganda during the late 19th century. The king, influenced by evil desires and oppressive power, sought to manipulate and coerce the young men into abandoning their faith and morals. When they refused to denounce their Christian beliefs and succumb to the king’s immoral demands—particularly the temptation to indulge in evil and idolatry—they faced the threat of death.

In their steadfastness, Charles and his companions refused to compromise their integrity. They chose to remain faithful to God’s laws, and even more so to God as their loving Father, even when faced with the prospect of martyrdom. Their refusal to give in to evil desires was rooted in their deep conviction that God's truth and righteousness are worth any sacrifice. He was not just an ideal to them, but rather a God with whom they had entered, through grace, into a loving relationship. A lot of us unfortunately still function on the superficial level when it comes to our relationship with him. That can change and it needs to change. We remember our Lord’s admonition to the disciples that unless their righteousness exceeded that of the Pharisees, they would not enter the kingdom of God. For us to get the full benefits and graces of citizens of his Kingdom, we need to enter more deeply into a loving relationship, not an exterior one, with God. 

The unwavering conviction of these martyrs was not only a rejection of the king’s immoral commands but also a demonstration of their loyalty to God's commandments and this is how we know our love is real: when we keep his commands. Their courage was rooted in the understanding that true freedom and life are found in fidelity to God, not in submission to evil or worldly power. They chose to suffer and die rather than betray their faith, exemplifying the Lord’s teaching in today’s Gospel: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Their martyrdom teaches us that true courage involves standing firm against evil, even when it is costly. It reminds us that fidelity to God often requires sacrifice and that our strength comes from trusting in God's grace. The martyrs teach us that the pursuit of righteousness is not always easy, but it leads to eternal life and a preservation of our dignity as children of God.

In our own lives, we face daily temptations—moments when we are tempted to compromise our values, to give in to selfish desires, or to turn away from what is right. But these temptations can also become opportunities for spiritual growth. The courage of Saint Charles Lwanga and his companions encourages us to resist those temptations, to stand firm in our faith, and to trust that God’s grace is sufficient. Their example invites us to see suffering for righteousness as a participation in Christ’s own suffering and glory.

Let us remember that the martyrs’ strength came from their unwavering faith in God's promises. Their courage teaches us that standing for what is right, even in the face of opposition, is a form of witness that bears fruit in eternal life. As we celebrate their memory, may we draw inspiration from their example to live with integrity, to resist evil in our own lives, and to trust in the Lord’s ultimate victory.

May Saint Charles Lwanga and his companions intercede for us, guiding us to be courageous witnesses of Christ in every circumstance. And may we find the strength to follow their example, knowing that our perseverance in righteousness will lead us to the everlasting joy of the Kingdom of Heaven.