Cup of Water
Matthew 10:40-42
…whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones… v. 42
In one of the parishes I served, the drinking fountain (or bubbler as it was known around the Milwaukee area) was right outside my office door. Every time I left or entered my office, I took a gulp of good cold water. When I moved to a new community, I missed the water I had come to take for granted.
In many places in the world, a cup of water, much less a cup of cold water isn’t taken for granted. It often isn’t immediately available at all. Often, even if the water is available, it is contaminated with animal waste and other debris. Those who drink it are the little ones–are the least ones who are thirsty.
Jesus says that whoever gives a gallon or a quart or even just a cup is doing God’s work in the world and has a reward. The reward is the satisfaction that when we give a drink to the thirsty, we are doing a holy work. Giving water, providing water is a divine action.
With water life is enhanced. The people who are given a convenient and safe source for water are less likely to get sick and so less likely to miss school or work. Their food tastes better, their homes are cleaner, even their crops may grow better. Life is better with a close by source of water.
Every cup of water, every well, every spring cistern is a ray of resurrection light shining into places that live in the shadow of the cross. We make the world different by providing large and small with a cold cup of water.
PRAY: Join your prayers with others as you gather with a local worshipping community to give thanks for an abundance of water, to pray for all who are thirsty because of drought, and to receive your commission for the coming week.
FAST: By not eating almonds that require huge amounts of water to grow.
ACT: Set aside bottles of flavored water
OR set aside $1 to give to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
...the least of these... 