“Show kindness to all strangers, for by doing so
many have entertained angels unawares.”
~ unknown (Hebrews 13:2)

 

While this verse does illuminate the Truth that there is an innate Divinity within every sentient being — and that there is Divinity at the Heart of every human interaction as well (even encounters as innocuous as passing stranger on the street, and even those as harsh as being attacked by a supposed “enemy”), such an emphasis actually hinders this verse’s potency … For we are not to treat strangers with Kindness because they are angels in disguise (a focus which implies that we are to treat them lovingly because A) they might do something Kind for us in return, or B) they are innately Good and thereby worthy of being conditionally “loved” as a result).  No, in truth we are actually Called to treat strangers as if they were angels while they are behaving otherwise and as if they are anything but (see Matthew 5:43-48) …

Indeed, our Kindness is most potent in those moments we are convinced that strangers are “dangerous” or “mean” or “dishonest” or even “evil”, and yet reach out to them with Caring Kindness anyway (see Luke 6:27-36) – not because they are potentially “angels in disguise”, but because they are probably not angels in drag; because they are simply human beings in obvious pain; because they are others just like us – albeit possibly more confused by greed and probably more befuddled by fear.

 

In essence, we are to be Kind to them not because of their innate Divinity – but simply because they have obviously lost touch with the same, and we are the only ones in that moment who can bring them back thereto.

 

Amen … Let it be so.

 

Filed under: My Favorite Verses by Scaughdt