I’ve always been intrigued by this bit of advice in the Bible:

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.

Such a a mysterious promise. Demonstrate open-handed generosity to strangers? Because who knows—one might be an angel?

I wonder if I’ve ever helped an angel, or walked by one in my distrust of unfamiliar people? I’m sure I’ve missed more than I’ve entertained. I err on the side of suspicion.

But the injunction here is to err on the side of loving others. First, stick with our brothers and sisters. Don’t give up on each other. Then take a risk and reach out to those outside our circle. Demonstrate warmth, show kindness, and listen. Hospitality places us face to face with others.

I find this uncomfortable. I’d rather make an on-line donation and go about my day. But the type of love God calls us to is inconvenient and messy. And sometimes attended to by angels.

Hebrews 13 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Matt Collamer