Everyday Angels

Over the past few days, we’ve been reflecting on the gift of hospitality. Of course, we know the early church grew from the first few disciples to a massive movement due to the extraordinary character of Christian hospitality.

Not judgment. Not defensiveness. Not self-preservation.

Hospitality!

And it makes sense, doesn’t it? If you are expecting Jesus to meet you at any point in time as a stranger, you treat people in a whole different way.

Sometimes I think about that when I meet a visitor in church on Sunday morning; or, on a deeper level, sometimes when I pass someone on the street who looks lost or in need. That’s a lot harder…

In a Bible study I taught recently, we raised the following questions:

• In an age of distraction, how might offering our full attention to someone in need be a form of hospitality?
• How about offering someone the gift of a listening ear?
• How about welcoming new people and visitors in your church? What about inviting them to join you for lunch or dinner?
• What about in your daily life—the workplace, when you’re out to dinner, at the grocery store, walking in your neighborhood?

The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Rome: “Let love be genuine… Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.”

In the book of Hebrews we read: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Let us pray: Holy God, across the ages you have sent us more witnesses than we could recognize, more help than we could seek, and more of yourself than we have been able to recognize or love. Thank you for your hospitality to us. Empower us to share that same love, acceptance, and grace with a world desperately in need. Amen.