Feb 4 2019 Ruth 1: 16-18

Where you go, I will go.

Commemoration of Manche Masemola

If I were to follow the morning prayer and evening prayer readings for two years, I believe I would make it through the entire Bible, the psalms dozens of times, and the Gospel numerous times. If we Anglicans partake in the rich tradition of daily prayer, we are, in fact, people of the Bible, and devout readers of Scripture.  

In addition to this richness, the Church has developed a book commemorating the rich and varied holy women and holy men in God’s kingdom. There is nearly one for every day, and for morning or evening prayer followers, there is always the option of using the prayer time to learn more and commemorate these holy people.  Many I’ve heard of, such as MLK, but some I haven’t. Today’s holy woman is a previously unknown martyr. 

Manche Masemola was a South African girl who was exposed to Christianity in her remote village after a mission was created by an Anglican priest in the early 1900’s. She was drawn to Christianity, and sought to be baptized. Her parents thought she’d been bewitched, and took her to a traditional healer. It didn’t stop her. Eventually they did stop her by taking her to a remote place and killing her.
Forty years later, her mother converted to Christianity, and was baptized. Manche was declared a martyr by the Anglican Church in South Africa. She is one of ten 20th century martyrs from across the world whose statutes are above the great doors of Westminster Abbey in London. 
The reading for this day is from Ruth. Ruth’s husband and her father in law have both died, leaving her and her mother-in-law alone in a very patriarchal society. She insists she will follow her mother-in-law, even if it results in death. 

Masme must have been fighting with her parents, well before her death. She must have had some idea that her conviction and desire to be baptized was contrary to her parent’s wishes, and increasingly dangerous. And yet she persisted. To the point of death. And maybe through that death, eventually her mother came to believe.  May I have the faith to believe when it’s hard. To follow when it’s dangerous. To persist.