As Catholic Christians we are asked by Jesus to love God and our brothers and sisters by being hospitable, generous, committed to humble service and practice corporal and spiritual works (acts) of mercy (charity). The readings also remind us of the sacrifice demanded of Jesus’s disciples and the suffering they would endure for their Faith when they bear witness to Jesus.

Through Baptism, we have been baptized into Jesus’ death and buried with him, and we look forward to our resurrection with him (Rom 6:5). Since Baptism is our entry into this new life, it makes us part of the Body of Christ, and Christ is truly present in us. That is why the one who welcomes us welcomes Christ and becomes eligible for a reward.

Today’s Gospel concludes with Jesus’s great “missionary discourse” in which he instructs the twelve apostles on the cost and the reward of the commitment required of a disciple. The first half of these sayings of Jesus details the behavior expected of his disciples, and the second half speaks of the behavior expected of others towards the disciples.

Jesus assures his disciples that whoever shows them hospitality will be blessed. Those who receive Jesus receive the One who sent him. Also, those who help the “little ones,” believers and the poor, the sick and the needy will be amply rewarded.

We need to be hospitable and generous. Hospitality means acknowledging the presence of God in others and serving Him in them, especially those in whom we least expect to find Him. We, as individuals and as a community, are to look for opportunities to be hospitable — and, of course, there are plenty of ways of offering hospitality.

Recently, while I was eating at a Japanese restaurant in Cubao, I witnessed a fight between a man and a woman. At first, I just observed them, but later when I saw that the man threatened to hit the woman with his motorcycle helmet, I stood up, approached them, and told the man that they were in a public place and they should talk properly and calmly.

But instead of listening, the man bravely replied, “We were just talking; did I hurt her?” I replied, “That’s why I approached you.” Angrily he remarked, “Why are you interfering?” At this point, I introduced myself as a Master Sergeant and told him that if he still didn’t listen and comply, I would personally carry him to the Cubao Police Station.

My point with this story: is it intentional that we Filipinos don’t really care or we don’t want to involve ourselves in particular situations?

Are we not aware of a “citizen’s arrest” where when something bad happens, especially if people get hurt or cause a public scandal like I witnessed, harass and violate women, we can step in and stop it.