Easy and Hard!

Mark 9:41
For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward.

God, said George MacDonald, is easy to please, but hard to satisfy.  There are few things easier than giving somebody a cup of water, yet such a gesture will gain you a heavenly reward, if you do it because somebody bears the name of Christ.  On the other hand, those who bear the name of Christ are not always people we are especially interested in getting to know.  How many of us have given water to the poor, the imprisoned, the despised, or the “popularly unpopular” (that is, anybody who our social circle would gasp to see us with).  It is in this “distressing disguise” says Mother Teresa, that Jesus comes to us as well.  Today, give a cup of water to somebody who bears the name of Christ.  Tomorrow, do it again.  But take the cup a little further on and give it to somebody who bears Christ’s name in difficult circumstances.

Comments

  • Guest

    Thank you again, for today's words of encouragement.  I volunteered to be a volunteer catechist for a prison ministry with boys & girls last night.  My family was against it last night, but they changed their minds this morning after reading this. 

    Laura K.

Newsletter

Subscribe to the Catholic Exchange Ezine and Newsletter.

The Church Today

Today's Mass Readings

Readings for February 14

Liturgy of the Hours

Daily Divine Office

Words of Encouragement

“Our Lord loves you and loves you tenderly; and if He does not let you feel the sweetness of His love, it is to make you more humble and abject in your own eyes.”
-St. Pio of Pietrelcino…

Pope Benedict's Day

Saint Peter’s Square, at 12:00
Angelus…

Quote of the Day

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13…

Homily of the Day

God Is Worthy of Trust

Saint of the Day

Saints Cyril and Methodius

Ask a Monk

Spiritual advice from a Benedictine cloister by Brother Sebastian Coming Soon…


Support