Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing
some people have entertained angels without knowing it. – Hebrews 13:2

I’ve been thinking a lot about angels lately. In several recent retreats that I’ve led, the concept of “angels” has come up – mainly about the ones in the Scriptures who have said “Do not be afraid.” Those were the words the Angel Gabriel said to the young Mary in an out-of-the-way village. They are said over and over again in the scriptures – often by angels. Those words might not take away the source of our fears, but they are a promise of God’s presence even in terrifying times. As Amy, a woman said at a retreat in Washington State last week: “Maybe those words aren’t just meant to be comforting to us. Perhaps they are a command to not allow our fears to take over when we are in difficult situations.” Yes, the angels may be telling us that we might need to invite hope, peace, and faith to stand with our fear.

According to information I found on the Internet, angels are mentioned at least 108 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New Testament. The word angel comes from the Greek word aggelos, which means messenger. The matching Hebrew word mal’ak has the same meaning. The Bible also uses these words for “ordinary people” who carry messages (Job 1:14, Luke 7:24, 9:52), prophets (Isaiah 42:19, Malachi 3:1) and church leaders (Rev. 1:20).

I don’t know about your experiences, but the appearance of “ordinary angels” seems to take place every now and then for me – and in the most everyday circumstances. I’ve seen people in NYC rush to help a person who has fallen down. I’ve watched people pay the bus fare for a visitor from another country who doesn’t understand English or who doesn’t have the correct change. I’ve heard kind words spoken by strangers to someone who is terrified at the scene of an accident. And recently I experienced an “angel” friend whom I had not seen for over 40 years who held me and cried with me at our mutual friend’s funeral.

Perhaps we all can become angels when we respond to a need that shows up, and we allow ourselves to give over a part of ourselves to make a difference. And maybe as angels we can make love, compassion, and forgiveness more present in the world.

Thank you, God, for the gift of your angels who tell us not to be afraid. May we learn how to pay attention to their messages. And thank you for those angels who show up just when we need one in our life. Help us to learn to be angels for others and to give a part of ourselves to others in need. May we make a difference in the world by pouring love and joy into the universe. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com