June 3: MEMORIAL OF ST CHARLES LWANGA AND COMPANIONS, martyrs

Theme: We are only caretakers of earth’s treasures.

Reading: Mk 12:1–12

What would you have done to those tenants in the parable of today’s gospel if you were the owner of that vineyard? I believe that many of us would react more strongly than the audience of Jesus suggested, yet our daily behaviours are tainted with actions that are similar or worse than those of those tenants.

Often, the way we treat those who draw our attention to the proper use of the earth’s/nation’s resources and our abilities/endowments resembles what the workers did to the vineyard owners’ envoys. It is no longer a new thing in our world that those who call people in charge of our country’s resources to order risk being attacked, maimed, or killed. Also, those who advise people on how to properly treat or use their bodies and talents are frequently met with phrases like ‘we should do whatever makes us happy’, ‘I have right over my body’, and ‘keep your preaching out of my bedroom’.

In today’s gospel, Jesus wants us to understand that everything we have on earth (our natural resources, talents, riches, and other endowments) are treasures given to us by God to care for, and that He must demand returns from us as well as explanations for how we used them.

We are only caretakers of earthly resources and treasures. We must resist the temptation to use them as we see it pleases us, regardless of God’s will. St Charles Lwanga and the other 21 martyrs of Uganda resisted King Mwanga’s attempts to force them to enjoy what displeases God. Let us imitate them.

St. Charles Lwanga and companions, pray for us.