The theme for this 13^th Sunday in the Ordinary time is Hospitality. Filipinos are tagged as hospitable people. Is it true? How to be hospitable in this time of pandemic? These are the two questions that would be tackled by this sharing. The first reading reminds us that God rewards those people who welcome the prophet. For example, because of the kind gesture offered by Abraham to an unknown guest (and later turned to be God) his wife Sarah bore a child. Another example in the first reading today is the lady that render hospitality to Prophet Elisha. Because of this help a year later she had a baby boy. We must be kind to the ones that we meet because the guest is God. The guest is Jesus Christ. Of course, the other needs to show a behavior that the host will feel comfortable as what the lady said to her husband “I know that he is a holy man of God.” By virtue of our baptism, we are called to be holy. How to be holy man and woman of God? Pope Francis in the Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate number 14 wrote, “we are all called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves. Are you called to the consecrated life? Be holy by living out your commitment to joy. Are you married? Be holy by loving and caring for your husband or wife, as Christ does for the Church. Do you work for a living? Be holy by laboring with integrity and skill in the service of your brothers and sisters. Are you a parent or a grandparent? Be holy by patiently teaching the little ones how to follow Jesus. Are you in a position of authority? Be holy by working for the common good and renouncing personal gain.”

The Philippines is considered one of the most hospitable countries in the world. We welcome guests to our homes even if we just meet them once. We open our homes to our visitors during the fiestas. In the department stores there are workers paid to welcome us and utter these words “good morning sir/ma’am welcome to our store”. Despite this good gesture of hospitality, I would say that our hospitality in the Philippines is selective. Yes, we open our homes to our visitors during big celebrations but we select only those whom we invite. We invite those we consider equals or in the high class. The same in the department stores. The salesman looks at your appearance if you look like you can afford to buy their products or not. If you have the look, he will follow you like a puppy. But if not, he will make you feel to leave once and for all the shops. The words of Jesus echoed “whatever you do to your brothers you are doing it to me”.

COVID 19 disrupts our call to be hospitable because the virus can be carried around by us and is spread through us. We become suspicious to one another. Social Distancing becomes the new normal in relating to one another. This pandemic can only be overcome by the vaccine of hospitality. Many churches, schools, facilities that become a home for the frontliners and for the locally stranded individuals because of the lockdown during these 3 months lockdown. They provide food and shelter to them. By the way, not all of them are Catholics. What a hospitable church we have!!! Henri J. M. Nouwen in the book, Reaching Out: the three movements of Spiritual Life wrote “Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines”.

In general, Filipinos are hospitable because we believe that anyone who practices hospitality entertains God himself. Unfortunately, this pandemic does not promote fraternity and charity to our brothers and sisters. The challenge is still on, we need to welcome strangers because they might be bringing God’s message and blessings to us. Because it might be the guest is Jesus himself.