Week 2: Angels at the Dinner Table

Introduction:

Children’s stories, especially fairy tales, are filled with disguised visitors. Beggars are often disguised royalty or fairy queens. How one welcomes or refuses to welcome the disguised visitor can bring blessing or curse. The important thing in these stories isn’t trying to discern whether someone is more than they appear to be. The important thing is the choice between hospitality and contempt. One sees the need for food and shelter, and that is reason enough to pull up an extra chair at the table. Or one sees only dirt and rags and that is reason enough to shoo the beggar away.


Last week, God invited the Israelites to a daily meal of manna. This week, Abraham invites three men to dinner. His guests turn out to be more than ordinary travelers. They are angels, which means they are messengers from God. They have come to bring a message to Abraham and Sarah: they will soon welcome the birth of their very long-awaited son.


Did Abraham and Sarah know who their dinner guests were? Hebrew 13:1 tells us: “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Traditionally, this verse has been connected to this story of Abraham’s dinner guests, and we naturally perk up at the idea that we might have angels at our dinner table, too. But what’s really important here is that Abraham and Sarah’s hospitality flows from welcoming care for others. Our hospitality is to be the same. We are welcomed by God, and we love God, and that becomes the basis for our welcome and love for others. Like in the fairy tales, we don’t try to discern whether someone is more than they appear to be. We welcome others to the table because God has welcomed us to the table.

Scripture:

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.    – Genesis 18

Invitations:

  • Reflect on this week’s scripture. What words or phrases speak to you? Is there anything here that is uncomfortable for you?
  • Reflect on Hebrews 13:1 quoted above. What words or phrases speak to you? Is there anything here that is uncomfortable for you?
  • Strangers aren’t always literally strangers. A stranger can be anyone we don’t know well, or even more, someone we don’t agree with or understand their point of view. Is there someone who is your stranger that you could share some bread with this week?
  • Let WELCOME be your word of the week. Pay attention to the welcome of others to you. Pay attention to your welcome of others.

 

Prayer:

Jesus,

You love me.

I love you.

May our mutual love grow

My welcome and love of others.

    Amen.