Entertaining angels

A reflection on Genesis 18 v 1-15

Food in the eating place

And drink in the drinking place

Ancient signs of hospitality

An opportunity to entertain angels unawares

Signs of the triune God

As much as the ringing sound of laughter

Echoing through the encounter

For what encounter with the divine

Is not underpinned with mirth?

The mirth of a God

who allows us to sit down at table

and open ourselves to receive

much more than we can ever give.

The gift of life itself

In birthing and in dying

with open hands and open hearts

The God who is open to receive

whatever we can offer

and who gives

in wonderful extravagance.

Those sacred trees of Mamre

sheltered a sacred encounter

of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit

and Abraham, father of nations

and the laughter of Sarah and all the angels.

Food in the eating place

and drink in the drinking place

and hospitality becomes sacred

for all time.