No Good Deed is Forgotten

Reflection on the 13th Sunday in the Ordinary Time by Fr Jason Laguerta.

It is good to reflect on the theme of hospitality and welcome in today’s readings.

In the First Reading, we heard about a couple who welcomed the prophet Elisha into their home. At first, they offered simple acts of kindness of food and water, but later, they went further and prepared a room where he could rest. Elisha was deeply moved by their generosity, so he asked what could be done for them in return, and learning that they had no child and had already lost hope, he promised that in the following year, they would be blessed with a son. And indeed, God fulfilled that promise.

In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us: “Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones will surely not lose his reward.” This tells us that no act of goodness is ever too small. God sees what others do not see. He knows our kindness, our quiet generosity, and our welcoming hearts. Even if people do not notice or appreciate what we do, the Lord does. And more importantly, we do good not for recognition but because we have first received God’s goodness and we desire to share it with others.

However, the Gospel also invites us to reflect on the opposite of hospitality. It is not simply the absence of kindness, but the closing of our hearts: pushing people away, excluding them, and treating them as if they do not belong. And this is a reality many young people face today, for many feel unseen, unwanted, and rejected, even in places where they should feel safe like schools and even at home.

This is why what happened in Tacloban is so deeply painful. Reports suggest that the violence began with something that seemed small: a comment about someone’s haircut – something we might easily dismiss as harmless joking. Yet over time, that small hurt grew, and after a little while, it turned into something tragic. This reminds us that words matter. What we think is “just a joke” can already wound someone deeply. Pain that is ignored or hidden can grow into anger, and eventually, it can harm others. Thus, we must take this seriously – that bullying is not harmless; exclusion is not harmless. Because every time we laugh at someone, shut them out, or make them feel less, we are planting seeds of hurt. And often, those who are hurt may carry that pain and, in time, pass it on. The person who was once bullied becomes a bully, himself, eventually.

This is why we are called to be more sensitive, to be more welcoming, especially to the young, who are still learning their worth and place in the world. At the same time, we are also reminded to act with courage and humility. So, that if we hurt someone, we must say sorry; if we see someone being hurt, we must gently stand up and stop it. Building a culture of kindness begins with small, conscious choices.

Ultimately, the message God tells us today is simple, yet powerful: choose goodness. For even the smallest act like a smile, a kind word, a simple gesture can build someone up, and likewise, even a small act of hurt can break someone down.

Therefore, let us choose to welcome rather than reject, to heal rather than wound, to build rather than destroy. For in the end, every good deed, no matter how small, is seen by God, and never wasted. And God will reward you, not because we deserve it, but because God, Himself, is generous and can never be outdone in generosity.