ANGLICAN DAVID KATO -- UGANDAN MARTYR: ¨Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and that we may reverently use our freedom...¨ Part Six

This is a true story.

A young man, named David, lived in a small town.

He attended an Anglican church, and he was a faithful member.

As he grew in faith and stature he also grew more self-aware.

And he knew he was sexually attracted to other men.

His town, his country, his church all told him this was very bad.

Rather than internalizing the condemnation,

he was confident he was made in the image of God,

and he remained a faithful follower of Jesus.

He began a support group for others like himself.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake.

Last year, a magazine ran his picture on the front page,

with the headlines: “Top One hundred homosexuals: Hang them.”

He took the magazine to court and sued the publishers.

He won his law case and a monetary settlement a few weeks ago.

Early this week, David was beaten to death in his own home.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

His own church sent a person who stood up at the gathering of several hundred
friends and family and began a filthy foam of condemnation

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you.

In the crowd of friends and family stood a man and his wife.

The man, Christopher, was a Bishop in the Anglican church.

However, Christopher had been excommunicated and defrocked

by his Anglican Archbishop because of his support of homosexuals.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Christopher came forward, helped family and friends

take the coffin some distance to the grave,

and gave David a Christian burial and final blessing.

Blessed are the merciful.
Blessed are the peacemakers.

Dear people of God, we have much work to do to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation in the world. Let us as a priestly people offer our prayers on behalf of the world; let us gather at this Table not for solace and pardon only, but for strength and renewal.

Let us pray: Almighty God, who created us in your own image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen HERE

· Thanks to Margaret+
· Thanks to Leave It Where Jesus Flang It, sidebar
· Thanks to Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo,  Ugandan Hero
· Thanks to David Kato, Ugandan Martyr