The strangers in our midst

06Feb

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.  

-Hebrews 13:2

This passage from Hebrews both inspires and challenges me, especially from the perch of a life that is encapsulated in comfort, privilege, and safety.


In 2019, Canadian artist, Timothy Schmalz created the bronze sculpture pictured above. Titled "Angels Unawares," the statue depicts a 20-foot-long boat crowded with migrants and refugees from various lands. The sculpture, cast in bronze and weighing nearly four tons, was on a tour of American cities, including New Orleans, before being permanently displayed at the Catholic University of America. I was transfixed by it and fortunate to return for multiple visits, photographing it from various angles. Among the 140 sculpted faces are Italians and Germans seeking a better life in a new country; Irish immigrants escaping the 19th century Potato Famine (some of my own ancestors among them!); Africans who were forced onto slave ships; Vietnamese boat people fleeing a Marxist regime; a Cherokee on the Trail of Tears; Jews scarred by the Holocaust; Syrians seeking a more peaceful home during a civil war in their homeland. Mary and Joseph are in the crowd, identifiable only by St. Joseph's toolbox. But most poignant of all to me, stretching 11 feet high above the figures, are the wings of an angel symbolizing the words of Hebrews 13:2.


My time spent with the sculpture--as moving and profound an experience as it was--provoked more questions than answers as I thought about my own orientation to and experience with “strangers” and pondered an expanded notion of the question: Who is the stranger to me?


Is it someone of a different race, ethnicity or gender?
Is it the homeless men or women I so often see on St. Charles Avenue?
Is it someone who doesn’t share my religious traditions or political views?
Is it someone I’d never encounter in my “social circles”?
Is it the kid with a hoodie walking down my block who I may think doesn’t belong there?
Is it the Central American mother hunkered with her children under a bridge at the border?
Or, closer to home, the people of the tent cities under our overpasses?

And even more challenging questions:

How do I welcome the stranger?…and can I stay safe while doing so?  

What am I willing to risk to be welcoming?

How many angels have I missed….and what might an unexpected “angel” have to teach me?


My hope is that we may all be willing to start with the essential question: Who is the stranger to me? And then explore where the wisdom in this passage from Hebrews leads.


Musical Reflection - Get Together - The Youngbloods


Gracious God, calm my fears and grant that my heart might be open to the strangers in our midst; give me the grace to hear what they have to teach me about my humanity and about my participation in your kingdom. Amen.

Teaching

Previous Page

Date
Category
Author
Latest Posts
Tags
#absalomjones, #abundance, #advent, #advent #preparation #waiting, #anger, #antiracist, #archive #crisis #strength, #archive #treasure #heaven, #art, #ashwednesday, #ashwednesday #preservation #labor, #awe #reverence #fear, #bannedbooks, #baptism #discernment #support #covenant, #bathroomfloor #damascus #women, #beatitudes #allsaints, #belonging #america, #beloved, #bible #authority #religious #thinplace, #bible #forgiveness #prodigalson, #blessing #loveyourneighbor, #breathe #silence #love, #brothers #jesus #father #faith, #burden #rest #peace, #camp #loss #death #humble #humility, #change, #change #renewal #growth, #children #education #faith #formation, #children #parenthood #graduation #bittersweet, #christmas #stnicholas, #commandments, #communication #words #voice, #community #welcome #unity, #confession #paul #imperfection #failings, #courage #parable, #creation, #creation #love #space, #crucifix #cross, #david #goliath, #death #allsaints #winter, #death #loss #grief #memory, #discernment #presence, #disciples #evangelism, #division, #divorce, #enemy, #enneagram #grace, #faith #jesus, #fear, #forever, #formation, #friendship, #good, #good #evil, #gratitude #mercy, #gratitude #sing #nature, #halloween, #halloween #allsouls, #healing #leper #miracles, #help, #help #thanks #wow, #history #love #women #justice #friendship, #humanity, #humility, #hymn, #inclusivity #diversity #allarewelcome, #individualism #wealth #camel #excess #humility, #injustice #racism #unconditionallove, #jesus #joy #suffering, #johnthebaptist, #joseph #jesus #prison #forgiveness #family, #journey #pilgrims #companions, #joy #example #light, #joy #faith #perserverance #psalm, #joy #fun #mission #medicalmission, #joy #trials #overcome #faith #endurance, #justinmartyr #civildiscourse #jesus, #keepcalm, #king #judgement #government, #kingdom, #kingdom #disciples, #kingdom #god #life #story, #light, #light #darkness #holyspirit, #light #gratitude #joy #awe #miracles, #listening, #love, #love #gratitude #peace, #love #imperfection #mother #flowers, #love #light #loveyourneighbor, #loveyourneighbor, #lyric #music #harmony #emotions #paul, #mardigras, #martinluther, #mary #joseph #jesus, #mary #martha #jesus, #marymagdalene #resurrection, #matthew #jesus #compassion #labor #suffering, #medicalmission #joy #prayer #healing, #medicalmission #youth #joy #laughter #connection, #memorialday #sacrifice #gratitude, #methodist #episcopal #eucharist, #ministry #work #labor, #miracle #friendship, #mission #medicalmission #healing #pentecost, #mission #medicalmission #serve #perserverance #loveyourneighbor, #missionstatement #inspired #strives #loveyourneighbor #dojustice #walkhumbly #archives, #money #fishing, #muppets #sabbath, #nativeamerican #land #blackfriday, #nature #retreat #moses, #neighbor #love #selflove #greatestcommandment, #painter #sailing, #parent #father #wisdom #family, #paul, #paul #jesus #authenticity #genuine, #paul #voice, #payphone #love, #peace #worry #martha #mary #vietnam #college, #perseverance, #peter #jesus #light #dark, #poetry #thanksgiving, #prayer, #prayer #grief #loss #pets, #prayer #peace, #prepare #crisis #faith #storm #jesus #archives, #psalms #mother #grandmother #gratitude, #psalms #rejoice #blessing, #quiet #retreat, #rage #unfairness #forgiveness #prayer, #rebirth #redemption #reconciliation #psalm #valley, #refuge, #remember #open #cryout #keep, #remembrance #september11, #rest, #retirement, #reward #loss #service #alcoholicsanonymous, #rock #support #foundation, #roshhashanah #judaism, #salvation #trust, #school #love #parents, #seeingjesus #hearinggod #vessel #handsandfeet, #selfrighteous #reconciliation, #serenityprayer #mary #martha, #serve #churchfamily, #solomon #failure, #standrew, #stars, #storms #peace #stainedglass, #story, #taize #prayer #listen, #teep #david #goliath #tlf, #tencommandments #sundayschool, #time #value #patience, #time #value #space, #todo #christmas, #tolerance, #transfiguration #mountaintop, #trees, #truth, #turntheothercheek, #waiting, #walkinlove, #weather #hurricane, #weddings #love #corinthians #patience, #williamtemple #singing, #witness #patience #presence #waiting, #women #mothers, #worry #trust, #worship #manygods #onegod, #wrangling #language, 12 steps, conviction, death, depression, doubt, easter, enemies, envy, eternal, eucharist, faith, female, grace, grief, holy spirit, hope, hypocrisy, jesus, judgement, love, make a difference, martyrs, medical mission, meditation, mental health, mission, mother, path, paul, pause, peace, peter, plan, power, powerless, presence, psalms, radiant, refuge, service, wisdom, youth

Stay Connected

Sign up to receive news and announcements from Trinity Church.

Sign Up