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THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS

Mark Bonney, Canon Treasurer (Wednesday 25th January 2006)

Since Easter is so late this year the whole of this month, apart from the first two days, falls outside of any liturgical season, but throughout the month we commemorate a number of the Church’s special women and men. One of them is a relatively recent addition to the calendar on 17 February – Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda. He was born in 1922 and spent his childhood and youth as a goatherd, but is ability to learn was noted and he took the opportunities offered him, became a teacher, was converted to Christianity and ordained in 1956, became a bishop on 1969 and Archbishop of Uganda in 1974. Idi Amin had come to power in 1971 and his undemocratic and harsh rule was the subject of much criticism by the Church and others. Following a letter from the bishops to Amin protesting at what was the virtual institution of state murder, Janani and two of Amin’s own government ministers were found dead following a car accident. It was very soon clear that they had in fact died as a result of Amin’s instructions. Undoubtedly Janani Luwum’s commitment to Christ led to his martyrdom on 17 February 1977. Of the many holy women and men that will be commemorated this month Archbishop Luwum attracts me for three reasons. The first is rather prosaic – I was confirmed in 1969 by the man who had been the last white Archbishop of Uganda, someone who knew Luwum well. Secondly of course, our own new Archbishop of York, Sentamu, fled Uganda and bears the scars of ill-treatment at the hands of the same regime. Thirdly Luwum is a reminder that, for many Christians in the world, bearing witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ is a costly thing to do, not least when they challenge the political and social structures of their society. We have been heralding over the past two issues our new Mission Statement, and one part of that is a commitment to challenge injustice at home and abroad. This aspiration to work at issues of social justice is the one that as yet we’ve put the least flesh on, not least possibly because it’s challenging and costly. Perhaps the example of Janani Luwum and the reality of the lives of the many who suffer injustice can steal us to work harder at this.

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