Henry Martyn

Henry Martyn, Priest and Missionary to India, 1812

Isaiah 49:1-6

Psalm 56:8-12

Romans 1:8-15

John 4:22-26

Did you know that there were Christians in India before the British came in the 1700’s? When the British arrived, they discovered a Christian community in Malabar who are said to have been founded by the apostle Thomas. 

Henry Martyn is known as a founder of of the modern church in India. I would probably quibble with this, but Henry did establish parishes and schools in India, as well as translate the Book of Common Prayer into Hindi. He even learned Persian so he could translate the New Testament into that language and was studying Arabic when he died. 

What came to mind in studying about Henry, and in looking at the Gospel reading, is that the Spirit is the foundation. Last week at Peace Mass we had a great conversation about evangelism, in particular about how the Spirit acts before we arrive on the scene, and about evangelism as accompanying people on their journey towards God. 

In that sense, the work we do is second string, it’s the organizing and connective tissue of the work the Spirit has already begun. It’s the companionship along the way. The gospel today is the final exchange between the Samaritan woman at the well and Jesus. She tells Jesus about the Messiah that she is waiting for, and Jesus says, “I am he, the one you is speaking to you.” 

I wonder how our idea of evangelism changes when we consider even Jesus had the Spirit out in front? Does it become more possible or probable? How many people and places in our lives are already infused with Spirit, just waiting for us to provide the connective community.