Chapel Matters

Have you ever met an angel? Maybe you have without knowing it! The letter to the Hebrews says: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it” (13.2). This week the Sacristans took chapel-assembly on the theme of angels, telling us that the word “angel” means a messenger from God, usually someone who shares “the good news” (as the angel Gabrielle did to Mary about the baby Jesus, or the angels did to the women at the tomb about Jesus’ resurrection). So perhaps the verse in Hebrews is reminding us that we should always treat people we don't know, or who have a different sexuality or are differently abled to us, with kindness because they might actually have a message from God for us that we need to hear!

But angels don't just say important things, they also do good things for others. It might be the angels who cared for Jesus when he was physically and spiritually exhausted after dealing with the temptations of the devil in the desert (Mark 1.12-13), or who strengthened him when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest and crucifixion (Luke 22.43). We too need angels in our lives to show us by what they do for us that we are loved. And of course, that means we can be angels to others, sharing the message of God’s love and forgiveness by what we say and do. The letter to the Hebrews goes on to encourage us to show kindness to others in our words and deeds, caring for those who are suffering, as well as for those who are in positions of authority (13.3, 17).

So it is quite possible that you have met an angel before! And also, that you yourself are an angel!