Fr Alex Swain

Beloved in Christ,

“Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

This is the opening of today’s reading from the Epistle to the Hebrews (Heb. 13:1-16). I find it particularly beautiful.

 In a time of increased division through the country, and world, the Holy Scriptures remind us to “let mutual love continue.”

God speaks to us through the Bible. When we regularly read the Scriptures, we more easily encounter the Holy Spirit speaking to us, calling us.

And, at least in my experience, spending time in prayerful reading of the Scriptures is one of the things that gets shunted to the end of a very long to-do list.

But.

To spend time in the Bible.

To ask the Holy Spirit to guide our path while we read.

This opens the way for us to hear God speaking to us more clearly in that moment.

And when we learn to hear God speaking to us, we can more clearly hear God speaking to us throughout our day-to-day: while swamped at work, while racing to pick up the kids, while studying for that exam.

As I read today’s text, I was reminded that “mutual love” is not merely a feeling. In our culture, love is often relegated merely to the realm of emotional sentiment or intellectual assent.

But to love is also to act.

Immediately following the ask to let mutual love continue is an active request to not neglect strangers. And if we keep reading Hebrews, exercises in profound empathy are requisites for this ask for mutual love.

As we go about our week, I hope we each may find a little more time in our days to spend in the Word.

In doing so, I hope we each may encounter God a little more fully in our lives.

Yours in Christ,

—Fr Alex