It is 03rd June 2015. It is the feast day of St. Charles Lwanga and companions, the martyrs of Uganda. The 22 of them were burned to death by Mwanga’s order on June 3, 1886. These martyrs are hope for Africa in pursuing moral life and life filled with faith in Jesus. They are the inspiration to live for God in odd times. Pope Paul VI canonized Charles Lwanga and his companions on June 22, 1964. The readings are from 2 Mac.7:1-2,9-14; Rom. 8:31b-39 and the Gospel from Mt.5:1-12. In the first reading we read the account of arrest, torture, humiliations and murder of seven brothers who did not want to compromise their faith. “It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and tortured with whips and scourges by the king.” (2 Mac. 7:1). The responsorial Psalm prays, “To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.” (Ps.25:1). The second reading strengthens us in times of trials and tribulations to be more than conquerors in Jesus. “If God is for us, who is against us?… nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom.8:31b,39). Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Life in Christ is the gift for the faith we hold in God. The Gospel invites us to reflect on the Beatitudes of the Lord. “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. (Mt.5:11,12). We are all blessed one way or the other because we believe in the Lord Jesus. Our happiness comes through our faith and living our faith in every situation.