Janani Luwum

Today is the feast day of Janani Luwum, which made me start. I remember walking on Luwum Road in Kampala a little over a year ago. I knew it was named for a Ugandan archbishop killed during Idi Amin's regime. I didn't realize that he had a feast day in our calendar. I'm glad to see him there, though. I can't imagine the kind of courage it would take to publicly criticize a regime as brutal as Amin's was.

It was strange, walking on Luwum Road, mostly because here in the U.S. I can't imagine having that same kind of history or place, a road named to commemorate a martyred bishop. God knows I want to keep it that way, but it was one of the times when I realized how incredibly different the Ugandan religious experience is from my own.

Here's the collect for today:

Almighty God, who gave to your servant Janani Luwum and his Companions boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

More about Archbishop Luwum here.