You can listen to this reflection here. Sunday's gospel reading is here.
Pope Francis’ apostolic journey to Asia and Oceania has generated much excitement, and not only among Roman Catholics. Whenever Pope Francis speaks out or takes an action – or takes a multi-day journey at his advanced age – he causes a stir. He speaks the truth about what matters – financial inequities, environmental destruction, intolerance, war-mongering, all of it.
It is gratifying to see a Christian leader lauded by such a wide range of people. In his humility and authenticity and commitment to the Gospel that Jesus actually preached, Francis has helped restore the tarnished image of Christianity. I see in the outpouring of welcome for him a shade of what Jesus said to his disciples after they complained that someone outside their group was attempting to work miracles in Jesus’ name: “Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly 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.”
Many churches feel increasingly isolated from their communities as efforts to attract people to worship services are met with so little success. And it is true that what institutional religion is selling does not seem to be of great interest to many in today’s Western societies. Where churches can expand is by inviting people to join them in works of service. That is a most natural way to share faith, working alongside people who are not part of our congregations, making space for them to bring “cups of water” to us and those with whom we work to address needs and change structures. From inviting people to help us serve meals in soup kitchens to promoting gun violence prevention, there are many access points that might appeal to the un- or de-churched.
What works of service or advocacy are you involved in? Who from beyond your congregation might you invite to join you? How might you lift up the gifts of such people, making them full partners in your work? How might you communicate that your commitment to this work is rooted in your relationship with Christ, that you work in his name?
Put another way: Who around us is offering us cups of water because we bear the name of Christ, affirming our work and our commitments? By all means, let’s take the water and drink it, and build on the friendship from there. We know a little something about the water of life.
© Kate Heichler, 2024. To receive Water Daily by email each morning, subscribe here. Here are the bible readings for next Sunday. Water Daily is also a podcast – subscribe to it here on Apple, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform.
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