Listening

Have you ever heard the request, “be and angel and….” followed by a particular request for some kind of assistance. We also have the well known phrase from scripture, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2

I wonder, if you have ever thought of yourself as an angel; what kind of angel would  you be?

An old Persian legend once pictured four angels watching God create the world. One said, "Why did God make it?" Another said, "How did God make it?" A third said, "Can I have it?" And the fourth said, "Can I help to make it better?"

The first had a  philosophical attitude - why?

The second had a scientific attitude - how?

The third had selfish attitude - can I have it?

The fourth had a Christlike attitude - Can I help to make it better?

The definition of an angel is, a spiritual being believed to act as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God.

In the final verse of Charles Wesley’s carol, Hark the herald angels sing, we find the words:-

Join the triumph of the skies

With angelic host proclaim

"Christ is born in Bethlehem"

Hark! The herald angels sing.

It was St Augustine who coined the phrase, “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”

As we come to the end of one year and enter another may we pray:-

God, we are aliens and sojourners in this world,

but you invite us to be your guests.

You lavishly offer us your hospitality

and lovingly welcome us into your family,

You invite us to share in the abundance of your kingdom.

God, you have shown us that providing hospitality to strangers opens a doorway into the Kingdom of God. Remind us that when we offer hospitality to others,

we are receiving Christ into our midst and so fulfilling the law of love.

We open our hearts to embrace the stranger, the friend, the rich, and the poor,

We open our lives to offer a generous heart toward all. Amen