Engaging our World Through Hospitality: Messengers

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. ~ Hebrews 13:1-2
When you meet a dark angel don't you ever for one minute believe that they are bad because they have faced the worst demons and lived to guide you through yours. It really isn't an easy job they have been asked to do, but then neither was standing on the front line during the war in heaven. ~ Shannon Adler

The same word for "angels" in Greek (as found here in Hebrews) also means messengers.

 Messengers can bring either good news or bad news, can't they? We have a tendency to view angels rather like fairy godmothers - out to keep us from harm or serve us in some beneficial way.

 But angels have something to tell us. And sometimes it is good.

 And sometimes it isn't.

 In Genesis Jacob wrestled and angel and the angel told him that he had wrestled with God. Jacob left that encounter with wounded hip.

 But also a blessing. 

 Angels have news to bring us. And to get the news we have to listen. Good or bad.

 Strangers have news to bring us as well. News about their lives. Their hopes. Their dreams. Their fears.

 As we get to know strangers they cease to be strangers and their news begins to have meaning in our lives. We listen to their stories and find the places where our stories intersect.

 We have a God of relationship and relationships form through interaction. Through sharing. Through sitting down and having a meal together.

 Through opening up our lives to let in the stranger. The messenger. The angel.

 Because in doing so, we just might be opening ourselves up to God.
Prayer: Help me to see the angels in my life and let them in! Amen

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