The Journey 314
Read: Acts 12: 1-19
Human being are always in the quest and search for new inventions to make life blessed and meaningful. It is quest and search for finding answers to unanswered questions that leads human being to conquer unconquered frontiers in life. All discoveries in science and technology or in any field is because of the passion that the concerned individual had in the search for answer. The search and quest to find the ultimate meaning and also discovering ones vocation and passion in life has led many people to Christ and made ordinary people to lead an extraordinary life of witness and living. Today this day is special. In the Indian context this day is written as 10/11/12. A coincidence of numbers in order in a particular day of the year. But this day is remembered and is historic with respect to a man who embarked on a journey to search a lost missionary, a missionary that the world thought was dead, a search to understand what drives a man to undertake and suffer for the sake of gospel. This search and this journey was embarked by a newspaper reporter Henry Stanley of the New York Herald to find the whereabouts of one of the most well know missionaries of the Christian church. The name of the missionary is David Livingstone. It is on this day– November 10, 1871, that Henry could finally meet Livingstone and could convey to the world that the greatest missionary of the church was alive. This meeting is considered historic. David Livingstone had left his country of England in response to the calling of the Lord to spread the gospel in the African continent. As years passed by, though people knew that Livingston was in Africa, nobody knew his whereabouts nor about his contributions to African society. It is this search that finally bore fruits. The famous quote “ David Livingston, I presume” was greeting said on this historic day when Henry Stanley met Livingstone for the first time, ending his historic search. This historic meeting and the conclusion of search occurred on the banks of Lake Tanganyika. Henry Stanley was considered a skeptic, who wanted to write a story about Livingstone and thus embarked on this quest. What he finally discovered through his meeting with Livingstone was memorable. David Livingston wanted to end slavery and it is this quest that led him to proclaim the gospel. In the quest to end slavery, Livingstone travelled through the different corners of Africa and he discovered Zambezi river. It is written that Livingstone was so much loved by the Africans that when he died in 1873, people in Africa buried his heart in Africa and sent his body to England, packed in salt. He was buried in Westminster Abbey in London and people still flock to see his memorial in Westminster Abbey. Henry Stanley wrote about Livingstone as man “who was manifested, sustained and guided by influences from heaven. The enthusiasm of his life come beyond question from Christ. Therefore must therefore, be a Christ”. Here is one man who is a skeptic finds another man so passionate about his Lord that he forsakes everything for the Lord. The meeting and the search is historic in every reason. The world could know that Livingstone was alive and for the Henry and the world, Livingstone signified what person could do if one is committed to the Lord. Encountering such passionate persons bring lasting changes in our life. I believe Christian life is all about helping other to know the passion that we have for the Lord and help them also be passionate in their commitment to the Lord.
There is one portion in the Book of Act that describes such an encounter and a search that brings joy to everyone involved in the encounter. As we meditate on the theme “Transformed Living” the portion that describes this wonderful encounter is found in Acts 12: 1-19. The early church goes through persecution. King Herod kills James and when he found that this pleased the Jews, he got Peter also arrested and put him in prison. This bought a pall of gloom in the early church and as its leaders were being martyred the church began to pray for the life of Peter. The prayers of the faithful is answered. When Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, an angel of the Lord appears to Peter and asks him to get up, fasten his belt, put on the cloak and follow him. As Peter got up he realized that his chains had fallen off and he followed the angel who opened the door to freedom. Peter realized the wonderful act of God and he goes to the house of Mary who is the mother of John. This house was the meeting house, the fellowship house of the believers as they prayed for the deliverance of Peter. Peter knocks on the door of this house and announces himself. Now comes the most wonderful part of the story and the encounter. Rhoda the slave girl recognizes the voice of Peter and instead of opening the door for him, she goes inside and conveys the news to the people who were praying that Peter was standing outside the door. But the believers did not believe Rhoda, but she insisted it was Peter and finally when the door is opened they see Peter. What a joy they all shared as they realized how good and faithful the Lord is when one is committed to his kingdom. The joy of Peter to behold fellow believers and as they encounter each other it was Rhoda the slave girl who may be the most overjoyed. The joy of meeting and encountering Peter through whom she came to the Lord and through whom she had a passion for the Lord. Can our life be also a witness to others so that in their search for meaning in life they encounter us and discover through us what it means to live and living for the Lord.
Rev. Dr. Joe Joseph Kuruvilla
Human being are always in the quest and search for new inventions to make life blessed and meaningful. It is quest and search for finding answers to unanswered questions that leads human being to conquer unconquered frontiers in life. All discoveries in science and technology or in any field is because of the passion that the concerned individual had in the search for answer. The search and quest to find the ultimate meaning and also discovering ones vocation and passion in life has led many people to Christ and made ordinary people to lead an extraordinary life of witness and living. Today this day is special. In the Indian context this day is written as 10/11/12. A coincidence of numbers in order in a particular day of the year. But this day is remembered and is historic with respect to a man who embarked on a journey to search a lost missionary, a missionary that the world thought was dead, a search to understand what drives a man to undertake and suffer for the sake of gospel. This search and this journey was embarked by a newspaper reporter Henry Stanley of the New York Herald to find the whereabouts of one of the most well know missionaries of the Christian church. The name of the missionary is David Livingstone. It is on this day– November 10, 1871, that Henry could finally meet Livingstone and could convey to the world that the greatest missionary of the church was alive. This meeting is considered historic. David Livingstone had left his country of England in response to the calling of the Lord to spread the gospel in the African continent. As years passed by, though people knew that Livingston was in Africa, nobody knew his whereabouts nor about his contributions to African society. It is this search that finally bore fruits. The famous quote “ David Livingston, I presume” was greeting said on this historic day when Henry Stanley met Livingstone for the first time, ending his historic search. This historic meeting and the conclusion of search occurred on the banks of Lake Tanganyika. Henry Stanley was considered a skeptic, who wanted to write a story about Livingstone and thus embarked on this quest. What he finally discovered through his meeting with Livingstone was memorable. David Livingston wanted to end slavery and it is this quest that led him to proclaim the gospel. In the quest to end slavery, Livingstone travelled through the different corners of Africa and he discovered Zambezi river. It is written that Livingstone was so much loved by the Africans that when he died in 1873, people in Africa buried his heart in Africa and sent his body to England, packed in salt. He was buried in Westminster Abbey in London and people still flock to see his memorial in Westminster Abbey. Henry Stanley wrote about Livingstone as man “who was manifested, sustained and guided by influences from heaven. The enthusiasm of his life come beyond question from Christ. Therefore must therefore, be a Christ”. Here is one man who is a skeptic finds another man so passionate about his Lord that he forsakes everything for the Lord. The meeting and the search is historic in every reason. The world could know that Livingstone was alive and for the Henry and the world, Livingstone signified what person could do if one is committed to the Lord. Encountering such passionate persons bring lasting changes in our life. I believe Christian life is all about helping other to know the passion that we have for the Lord and help them also be passionate in their commitment to the Lord.
There is one portion in the Book of Act that describes such an encounter and a search that brings joy to everyone involved in the encounter. As we meditate on the theme “Transformed Living” the portion that describes this wonderful encounter is found in Acts 12: 1-19. The early church goes through persecution. King Herod kills James and when he found that this pleased the Jews, he got Peter also arrested and put him in prison. This bought a pall of gloom in the early church and as its leaders were being martyred the church began to pray for the life of Peter. The prayers of the faithful is answered. When Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, an angel of the Lord appears to Peter and asks him to get up, fasten his belt, put on the cloak and follow him. As Peter got up he realized that his chains had fallen off and he followed the angel who opened the door to freedom. Peter realized the wonderful act of God and he goes to the house of Mary who is the mother of John. This house was the meeting house, the fellowship house of the believers as they prayed for the deliverance of Peter. Peter knocks on the door of this house and announces himself. Now comes the most wonderful part of the story and the encounter. Rhoda the slave girl recognizes the voice of Peter and instead of opening the door for him, she goes inside and conveys the news to the people who were praying that Peter was standing outside the door. But the believers did not believe Rhoda, but she insisted it was Peter and finally when the door is opened they see Peter. What a joy they all shared as they realized how good and faithful the Lord is when one is committed to his kingdom. The joy of Peter to behold fellow believers and as they encounter each other it was Rhoda the slave girl who may be the most overjoyed. The joy of meeting and encountering Peter through whom she came to the Lord and through whom she had a passion for the Lord. Can our life be also a witness to others so that in their search for meaning in life they encounter us and discover through us what it means to live and living for the Lord.
Rev. Dr. Joe Joseph Kuruvilla