THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Thursday of the seventh week in Ordinary time, 2022

Jams 4:13-17

Ps 49

Mark 9:41-50

A cup of water to drink

I have often been struck by those words of Jesus at the beginning of this morning’s gospel reading (Mk 9:41-50), ‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward’. 

Giving a cup of water to someone seems a very small gesture indeed. Yet, for someone who is really thirsty, a cup of water could be the greatest gift imaginable. Jesus is reminding us that the smallest gesture of kindness towards someone has enormous value in the sight of God. We can sometimes get discouraged because we may feel that we are not doing enough. Yet, Jesus is suggesting that God does not measure success in the way that the world tends to measure success. The love which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit can express itself in ways that are seemingly small and insignificant by normal human standards.

 This morning’s gospel reading encourages us never to underestimate the significance and life-giving impact of even the smallest of loving gestures. If the Lord can work powerfully through the young boy’s few loaves and fish, feeding a multitude with them, he can work powerfully through our own gestures of loving kindness, no matter how small they are.

Let us pray:  God, give us the grace to stay free of sin and help us never to make sinful demands of others. Amen

+Remain blessed