Manche Masemola, Martyr, 1928

The Collect:

Rite I:
Almighty and everlasting God, who didst kindle the flame of thy love in the heart of thy faithful martyr Manche Masemola; Grant unto us thy servants, a like faith and power of love, that we who rejoice in her triumph may profit by her example; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Rite II:
Almighty and everlasting God, who kindled the flame of your love in the heart of your faithful martyr Manche Masemola; Grant to us your servants, a like faith and power of love, that we who rejoice in her triumph may profit by her example; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Ruth 1:8–18

⁸But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go back each of you to your mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. ⁹The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.’ Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. ¹⁰They said to her, ‘No, we will return with you to your people.’ ¹¹But Naomi said, ‘Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? ¹²Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, ¹³would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me.’ ¹⁴Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

¹⁵ So she said, ‘See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.’ ¹⁶ But Ruth said,

‘Do not press me to leave you
    or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
    where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people,
    and your God my God.
¹⁷ Where you die, I will die—
    there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus and so to me,
    and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!’

¹⁸When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

Psalm: Psalm 118:8–14

⁸ It is better to rely on the Lord *
       than to put any trust in flesh.
⁹ It is better to rely on the Lord *
       than to put any trust in rulers.
¹⁰ All the ungodly encompass me; *
       in the name of the Lord I will repel them.
¹¹ They hem me in, they hem me in on every side; *
       in the name of the Lord I will repel them.
¹² They swarm about me like bees;
    they blaze like a fire of thorns; *
       in the name of the Lord I will repel them.
¹³ I was pressed so hard that I almost fell, *
       but the Lord came to my help.
¹⁴ The Lord is my strength and my song, *
       and he has become my salvation.

Gospel: Matthew 19:13–15

¹³ Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; ¹⁴ but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ ¹⁵ And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

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