"Jesus said to his disciples: “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. 'Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.'" Mt 9: 41-42
To live the Gospel and gain its benefits is simple. Give a thirsty person something to drink in the name of the Christ. But it is also simple to break the law. Anyone who teachs an innocent person to sin, to reject the Gospel, to disparage others, to steal another's reputation, to control others for their own gain rather than announce the Good News, will reap the wrath of God.
To avoid leading others into sin, the saints have often encouraged their followers to stay busy (this is not to say obsessed and compulsed with getting things done) in order to avoid being an example of laziness and entitlement to others. St Paul is clear about this. In his first letter to the church in Thessalonica he writes: "Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you." (1 Thess 2:9) A proud man, Paul did not want those interested in following Jesus to think that he expected them to support him, and he was very quick to correct those who disrupted the community for their own gain.
Feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty and caring for the sick and needy is a privilege. It is how the Gospel teaches us to witness to what we have learned. Knowing that faith and all it contains is a gift helps us to remember never to think of our faith as a private possession for our own salvation but as an offering from God that we need to share with the same gracious love God shows us.
Today, offer someone a drink of water.
How would you teach the young not to take faith for granted but to share it?
Very good post. Thank you so much for sharing.
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