‘Reward for a Cup of Water’

“I tell you whoever gives you a cup of water to drink …will by no means  lose his reward.” Mk.9.41

 It is a solemn promise by Jesus, “I tell you whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.”

Jesus is generous, very generous in rewarding even those who give a cup of water. Soon after the young man who came to Jesus,  refused his invitation to follow him, Peter asked an important question to Jesus, “We have left everything and followed you, what will we have?” In reply, Jesus promised him a “hundredfold now in this age…and in the age to come everlasting life”’ (Mk 10.30). What more can we ask for?  It is a good bargain. We give one and he gives a hundred. He has promised the hundredfold not in some future age but now ‘in this age’. But some may say that they have not received the hundredfold.   Maybe you have received but you have not recognized it, or perhaps you have not truly given your part of the share. 

Jesus is true, and he keeps his promises.   

When Peter gave his boat for a pulpit to preach from, in return, Jesus gave him a boat full of fish. A fisherman could not have asked for more.( Jn 21.11)

When the Samaritan woman gave Christ a drink of water,  in return, Jesus promised her a perennial spring.  What more could she be provided in a parched, waterless place? Jn. 4.14    

At the Wedding at Cana, when the family was in an embarrassing situation, Jesus gave them not just one but six jars filled ‘up to the brim’ with new fresh wine. What more could he have given at a marriage party? Jn. 2.7

When the boy gave generously his  two fish and five barley loaves, in return Jesus gave  ‘twelve baskets’ full after five thousand had eaten. Jn.6.13

Jesus in his sermons, assures us that we have a Father who gives far more than we can ask for. “If God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not MUCH MORE   cloth you – you of little faith” Mt 6.30.

If you know how to give good things to your children, “How much MORE will the Father give… !” Lk.11.13

When the prodigal son returned, he was hoping to be received back as a hired worker and given accommodation in the servants’ quarters and be allowed to eat their food.  But instead, he gets a warm embrace and a kiss from his father, and the best robe, ring and sandals. The Father orders ‘the fattened calf’ to be killed and calls for a celebration. All these, not in the servant’s quarters but inside the decorated, lit up, dining hall of his house. He is restored as a son, not a slave. (Luke 15)“How much MORE the Father gives…!”

 The last-comers in the parable of the vineyard hoped to get perhaps one-fourth of a day’s wage, but they were pleasantly surprised when they got a full day’s wage  and went home rejoicing and singing. (Mt 20)     “ How much MORE the father gives…!”

In the parable of the banquet, those who were invited at the last moment from the lanes and the by lanes hoped for the left-overs of the wedding banquet and a place outside the wedding hall but they were surprised to be given wedding garments and seated in the ‘wedding hall’  and served the choicest of foods, as much as they wanted ( Mt.22)  “How much MORE the  Father gives…! “

‘A hundredfold’ and ‘much MORE’ is assured to all who give even a ‘cup of water’.   

 – Fr T.V. George sdb