“Holy Encounters by God: A Reflection on June 25”
Scriptures: Psalm 118, Acts 10
Rev. Dr. Grace Howard, Professor,
World Mission College of The Greater Washington, VA
Have you ever encountered God? In Psalm 118, gratitude is expressed for the love that we have received from God. We are thankful for God’s mercy, and compassion. We are thankful for God’s protection and salvation. We are even thankful when God chastises us severely because we know that God will not give us over to death. So, in a very real sense we have encountered God.
In Acts 10, Peter was told by God to share the gospel with Cornelius and his gentile family. This had to be very difficult for him. It is also difficult for us to share the gospel with people who look or act differently from us. We want to share Jesus’ love with everyone. However, it is not easy to share the Good News with our own families, friends, and neighbors.
Cornelius and Peter met each other without knowing what was going to happen. But Peter knew what he was supposed to say. Peter started with God’s acceptance of all nations. His preaching to Cornelius summarized Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection. He empathized the anointing of Jesus with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 10: 34-43) Peter’s sermon led Cornelius and his family and friends into a holy encounter with the Holy Spirit. As a result, Cornelius and his family and friends were baptized in the name of Jesus. This holy encounter transformed Peter and Cornelius from enemies to brothers in Jesus Christ. And Cornelius’ family and friends became part of the family of God. (Acts 10:44-48)
Historically, when faithful Christians heard God’s calling and were filled with the Holy Spirit, they traveled to the farthest places from their homes and preached the Good News to strangers. Some even gave their lives for the faith.
June 25 marks the beginning of the Korea War in 1950. During Korean war, American soldiers came to Korea to lay down their lives for Korean freedom. From the beginning of the 20th century, God sent American missionaries to Korea, mainly Presbyterian, to share the Good News. As a result of American Christians’ sacrifices, many Koreans became Christians. With the resources provided by American churches, they built churches, orphanages, schools, and hospitals. They talked about Jesus.
Since 1980, Korea has become an educated and prosperous country. Many churches were built. They focused on sending missionaries all over the world. They learned from American churches and missionaries.
Acts 10 shows us the inclusive nature of the Gospel. We are to embrace holy encounters with people from all walks of life. To do this we need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Our encounters with God and with others should be marked by gratitude, praise, and a willingness to extend God’s love to everyone we met. Let us be thankful for God’s love in our lives and for the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.
