18 October.   Daswa – a man of courage. In 2015 here in South Africa our first martyr was recognised and beatified.  Benedict Daswa was proud to be a Christian, a Catholic, a committed member of his community. He was not afraid to speak up for Christian values in public. That resulted in his murder. Such courage will win us favour in God’s sight.  There is much persecution of Christians in the world today.  Some people are afraid to speak up for God in public: but they can be forgiven because the danger is great.  At the same time people should recognize the Spirit of God active in the world, slowly leading us closer to God and filling us with joy. 

Reflect, share, act. Scripture:  The Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. Luke 12: 8-12. Pope Francis:  The gospel radiant with the glory of Christ’s cross, constantly invites us to rejoice. Even amid persecution the disciples continued to be filled with joy. Why should we not also enter into this great stream of joy.  EG 5. JUBILEE:  The most convincing testimony to this hope is provided by the martyrs. Steadfast in their faith in the risen Christ, they renounced life itself here below, rather than betray their Lord. Martyrs, as confessors of the life that knows no end, are present and numerous in every age, and perhaps even more so in our own day. We need to treasure their testimony, in order to confirm our hope and allow it to bear good fruit.  The martyrs, coming as they do from different Christian traditions, are also seeds of unity, expressions of the ecumenism of blood. I greatly hope that the Jubilee will also include ecumenical celebrations as a way of highlighting the richness of the testimony of these martyrs. SNC 20. Act and Pray for the needs of families and our calling to become true missionary disciples.