In the late 19th century, in what is now modern day Uganda, Charles Lwanga (today’s saint) was head of court for the tribal chieftain King Mwanga II. Under Lwanga’s charge were court pages to the King. Lwanga and the pages were baptized into the Catholic Church and Mwanga wanted to stamp out Christianity in his kingdom. He also was a pedophile. He demanded Lwanga and the pages to renounce their faith and also made advances to the boys. Charles Lwange counseled them to resist these advances and hold onto their faith. This position led to the martyrdom for Lwanga and 21 of his pages.
In 1989 a large group of young people were in Central Park, New York City and had been causing serious trouble. The same night, a 17 year old female jogger was attacked and raped. 5 juveniles, later to become known as the Central Park 5, were arrested for the crime even though the DNA recovered from the victim did not match the boys. Through threats and actual violence the boys were coerced to confess to the crime and were sent to prison. In 2002 Matias Reyes admitted to the rape and attack resulting in the boys finally being freed from prison.
We see Paul in the same position as Lwanga and his companions, as well as with the Central Park 5, when we read today’s section from the book of Acts. Paul was taken prisoner in Jerusalem by Jewish leaders and brought before the Roman governor, Felix. While Felix found no guilt in Paul, he kept him prisoner because he wanted to find favor with the Jewish leaders and because Paul had not offered Felix a bribe for his release. Felix had Paul transferred to Caesarea. Later Felix was replaced with Festus, who also wanted to keep in the good graces of the Jews. After interviewing Paul, Festus finds no guilt in him. He offers for Paul to return to Jerusalem but Paul knows that the Jews are plotting to kill him along the way. So he asks Festus to refer him to face Caesar. His right as a Roman citizen. Festus agrees, after he has King Agrippa hear Paul defend himself and, at the same time, preach about Jesus. And, as we know, Paul remains imprisoned in Rome before being beheaded under the rule of Nero.
While it is unlikely that any of us have been imprisoned or martyred due to unjust accusations, most all of us have had experiences of treated wrongfully. As a veterinarian I have had grieving clients question my competency or motivation when they lose a pet. Or make disparaging remarks about my staff. All unfounded. Even in my retirement career as a motorcycle tour operator, I had a client hold me responsible when his unmanaged and undisclosed diabetes resulted in difficulties with his riding ability.
The real question, however, is not whether we will be wrongfully accused. It is an aspect of life. Misunderstandings occur. Grief or anger cloud the minds and the behaviors of people. I am guilty of letting anger get the better of me and have it result in the anger being directed at innocent and unexpectant individuals. The real question is how do we respond when others see something in us that we know is not a true representation of who we really are.
My eldest daughter lives in Senegal, in West Africa. Cultural differences between her and her husband’s family have led to her in-laws forming an inaccurate image of her resulting in tension within the family. My daughter’s initial response was anger at them and then a determination to show that they were wrong about their views of her. All to no avail. Her instinct has been to keep pushing to try to get them to see things her way and her frustration just escalates.
So what do we do when faced with the false images others have of us? Do we yell? Do we scheme to get back at them to punish them? Or do we take a lesson from the one person who faced the ultimate in false accusations? That being, of course, Jesus Christ. He bore His pain and He bore our pain when scourged and crucified. One who was not only guiltless but also sinless. From the cross, from the illegitimate cross, He prayed to His Father to forgive them for they know not what they do.
I am not saying that we should not try to clear ourselves when falsely accused or imprisoned. We must always struggle for the truth to win out in the end. Paul preached the Gospel to his accusers. Charles Lwanga encouraged his pages to stand firmly in their faith. Jesus never gave up on humanity.
And I think that is the message from today’s reading from Acts. To not let the misguided views that others have of us pull us away from our relationship with God. It would be easy to get angry at the other person, to tear them down to others or cause us to take other harmful or sinful actions. Instead, maybe we follow the lead of our Savior and ask God to help them to see more clearly but also for Him to keep us in relationship with Him during these times of struggle.
Prayer:
Lord help others to see me as you see me. And when they don’t, help me to recognize them as imperfect sons of you, the Father. As deserving of your love for them as I am deserving of Your love for me.
