Agnes Tsao Kou Ying, 1856, Agatha Lin Zhao, 1858, and Lucy Yi Zhenmei, 1862, Catechists and Martyrs

The Collect:

Rite I:
Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly walked the way of the cross: Strengthen thy church through the witness of thy servants Agnes Tsao Kou Ying, Agatha Lin Zhao, and Lucy Yi Zhenmei to hold fast to the path of discipleship even unto death; for with the Father and Holy Ghost thou livest and reignest, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Rite II:
Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly walked the way of the cross: Strengthen your church through the witness of your servants Agnes Tsao Kou Ying, Agatha Lin Zhao, and Lucy Yi Zhenmei to hold fast to the path of discipleship even unto death; for with the Father and Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Exodus 23:1–9

¹You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with the wicked to act as a malicious witness. ²You shall not follow a majority in wrongdoing; when you bear witness in a lawsuit, you shall not side with the majority so as to pervert justice; ³nor shall you be partial to the poor in a lawsuit.

⁴When you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back.

⁵When you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden and you would hold back from setting it free, you must help to set it free.

⁶You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in their lawsuits. ⁷Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent or those in the right, for I will not acquit the guilty. ⁸You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the officials, and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.

⁹You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

Psalm: Psalm 27

¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation;
   whom then shall I fear? *
       the Lord is the strength of my life;
       of whom then shall I be afraid?
² When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, *
       it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who
                              stumbled and fell.
³ Though an army should encamp against me, *
       yet my heart shall not be afraid;
⁴ And though war should rise up against me, *
       yet will I put my trust in him.
⁵ One thing have I asked of the Lord;
   one thing I seek; *
       that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days
                              of my life;
⁶ To behold the fair beauty of the Lord *
       and to seek him in his temple.
⁷ For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe
                              in his shelter; *
       he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling
       and set me high upon a rock.
⁸ Even now he lifts up my head *
       above my enemies round about me.
⁹ Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation
   with sounds of great gladness; *
       I will sing and make music to the Lord.
¹⁰ Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call; *
       have mercy on me and answer me.
¹¹ You speak in my heart and say, “Seek my face.” *
       Your face, Lord, will I seek.
¹² Hide not your face from me, *
       nor turn away your servant in displeasure.
¹³ You have been my helper;
    cast me not away; *
       do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.
¹⁴ Though my father and my mother forsake me, *
       the Lord will sustain me.
¹⁵ Show me your way, O Lord; *
       lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.
¹⁶ Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, *
       for false witnesses have risen up against me,
       and also those who speak malice.
¹⁷ What if I had not believed
    that I should see the goodness of the Lord *
        in the land of the living!
¹⁸ O tarry and await the Lord’s pleasure;
    be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; *
       wait patiently for the Lord.

Gospel: Matthew 25:1–13

¹ ‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³ When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; ⁴ but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵ As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. ⁶ But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” ⁷ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” ⁹ But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” ¹⁰ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. ¹¹ Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” ¹² But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” ¹³ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

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