St George’s Church

February 19th, 2010 Posted in Faith |

Friday After Ash Wednesday – Feast of Janani Luwum, Archbishop and Martyr of Uganda, 1977 ( transferred from Ash Wednesday)

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: - On the Fridays of Lent, it is customary (in the Church of the East and West) to abstain from meat as a sign of our common penance. It represents our efforts to abstain from - do without – so many other patterns that get in the way of our happiness and wholeness. Sacrifice and doing without is a worthy thought to ponder when one considers the life and witness of the saint remembered this week.

On this feast we recall the witness of Archbishop Luwum who exercised exceptional and courageous leadership when he opposed Idi Amins regime of tyranny, gross human rights violations and “islamisation” agenda in Uganda. The vibrant Anglican Church of Uganda under his leadership was on the verge of centennial celebrations of its birth through the seed of the blood of the Ugandan Martyrs. Thus Archbishop Luwum became the first martyr of the second century of Christianity in Uganda.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: What is the implication of this Gospel passage in our lives today? This is an important question when we consider the life and witness of Archbishop Luwum. Are we individuals who are effected and affected by the changing demands of today’s world in relation to our faith and Christian life? IF we understand the way of the world we know the journey will be rocky and rough and we need to be strengthened by Word and Sacrament.

The bread of the Eucharist, made out of grains of wheat, is offered to us as food for the journey so that we have the strength to face what the world may throw our way. Who of us does not need spiritual renewal and nurture?

Archbishop Luwum’s witness reminds us that martyrdom always bear fruit; this is why the Scripture says «Those who love their life», paradoxically, «destroy it». How do we hear that passage in our place and time? Have we been doing what is right and just in relation to our Christian faith?

Christ died to bear, with his blood, fruit; we have to imitate Him to resurrect with Him and bear fruit with Him. Can we join those persecuted Christians who offer their lives silently for the welfare of their brothers and sisters? This is critical as we must learn this Lent that the grain that dies is a pathway to Life.

PRAYER OF THE DAY: God our Redeemer, whose Church was strengthened    by the blood of your martyr Janani Luwum: so bind us, in life and death, to Christ’s sacrifice
that our lives, broken and offered with his, may carry his death and proclaim his resurrection in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “Prodigal sons are forgiven and reconciled with their heavenly Father, could they do other than forgive one another? A fellowship of prodigal sons came into being — the church of Christ. Love begets love. A new power … was let loose upon our suffering world, the power to love those who have not deserved love, the unworthy, the unlovely and unlovable, a man’s enemies, and even his torturers. Christians, in imitation of the Savior, became, as it were, Christ’s to one another and to the world”. – Archbishop Luwum, 1977