What does it look like to entertain angels, unknowingly or otherwise?  Jim Wilson explores this question.

ENTERTAINING ANGELS

The 14^th Sunday after Pentecost C Aug. 29, 2010 (Green)

Jeremiah 2:4-13, Psalm 81:1, 10-16, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14

“Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. … Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:1-2, 16  (NRSV)

Angel;

a messenger from heaven or earth,

human or divine,

oft divinely human,

bring truth from the Holy One

to guide us along our path

Bias, prejudice, racism, sexism;

determining ‘those’ people less than,

worthy not of my company,

shunned, denied, castigated, discriminated against,

a great loss to the bigot,

as angels lurk there also

Angels coming into our midst,

green card or no,

differing politics and family values,

the homeless person from the street,

the gay couple next door,

or one with a skin hue not like mine

And with stopped ears,

our compassion all locked away,

neglecting to do good to the stranger,

(oft created through our bias)

WE miss the message from God

with its incumbent blessing

“But when you give a banquet,

invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind.

And YOU will be blessed” Luke 14:13-14a

Daring to be Christian toward peoples of a different stripe, our calling, our great opportunity to hear from angels; messengers with a new slant on salvation and how to live fully there into. Jim Wilson