A CUP OF COLD WATER

[The following is sort of a story homily. I’m just going to reflect on the closing words of today’s gospel.]

A disciple went up to the master and asked, “What shall I do as one of your disciples?”

The master said, “And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple - amen, I say to you, he or she will surely not lose their reward.”

“… a cup of cold water…? “That’s it? That’s all?”

“Yes,” said the master. “A cup of cold water. That’s all.”

That image - those words echoed into the disciples ears and seeped down into his well and he went out and gave other little ones cups of cold water.

It was summer.

It was very hot.

People were thirsty.

On a hot sidewalk, the disciple saw a very hairy dog - with a winter coat of hair on him. He was walking up the street and the dog looked thirsty. The dog also looked very, very hot and very, very  overdressed.

The disciple spotted a general store - walked in and bought a neat silver bowl and a 12 pack of bottled water. The water had to be cold. The master had added that word - loud and clear: “cold”.

He walked up to the top of the street and saw a Starbuck’s coffee shop. It was in the perfect location. But it had no customers at the time. It was hot summer - early afternoon.

He walked in and spoke to the two young people behind the counter.

“Could you do me a favor?”

They said, “If we can….”

The disciple said, “Could you put this silver bowl - just outside your front door - off to the side  - and keep it filled with cold water.”

Then he added, “And here is plenty of cold water” as he put the 12 pack of water bottles on the counter.

The two young people were surprised at the request.

The disciple said, “Wait, let me show you what I mean.”

So they walked out front. The disciple put the silver bowl near the front door, but off to the side. Then he went back and got one bottle of cold water and came back and poured half the bottle into the bright silver bowl.

The disciple added, “I noticed a lot of dogs look like they are looking for water today. It’s such a hot day.”

“Good,” said one of the Starbuck’s workers, “we’ll do this.”

Then he added, “It won’t effect the competion. Most dogs don’t drink coffee.”

Just then a dog on a leash spotted the water and drank up almost the whole silver bowl. Her owner, a spiffy looking young chick, said, “Thank you. Great idea.”

The disciple noticed that bowl of water was still there and it was late October - almost near the end of Indian Summer.

And one day, the disciple was in another part of town, and one of the Starbucks workers spotted him and said, “Hey you’re the dog water guy. Great idea. Business improved at least 20 % with that cold water at our door. Dog owners - especially with spiffy looking modern dogs - have money and drink Starbucks.”

And the disciple said, “Thank you.”

It was a hot day and the disciple spotted about 5  men working on a lawn. He stopped to watch them and it looked like they didn’t have any water, so he went and bought a 24 pack of cold bottled water and brought it back for the men. All five said, “Wow! Gracias! Hey man, that was nice. Muchas gracias.  Muy caliente today.”

Next, the disciple saw a short fat guy - who looked like he had shortness of breath - walking and then leaning on a fence - then walking some more - then leaning on a tree - going down the street.

Sweating.

The disciple caught up with him and said, “You need water. See this library here. It has a great cold water fountain just inside the door. Why don’t you go in - and cool off - and get yourself some nice cold water?”

And the short fat guy said, “They don’t have a cold water fountain in there. I go in there all the time.”

And the disciple said, “Let me show you.”

And the two walked to the library - the disciple pausing and leaning on a tree and then a post - every time the man stopped to catch his breath.

They went in. It had wonderful air conditioning. The disciple showed him where the cold water fountain was - around the corner from the front door.

“Wow, I didn’t know this was here,” the short fat guy said.  “I’m going to tell all my friends where this is. Thank you.”

And the disciple said, “I have to say the following very carefully. Haven’t you heard the old saying, ‘Fat people always know where the cold water fountains are.”

And the short fat guy laughed - patted his tummy - his pot - as he said, “Thanks for the compliment. Thanks for calling me thin. I didn’t know about this cold water fount.”

And both laughed a good laugh and the disciple got a good sip of cold water from the library cold water fountain and headed back to the street.

Next, the disciple was walking around town, It was another hot, hot day and he spotted the master on a park bench - feeding the birds of the air - and watching them dipping into the big water fountain - in the center of the park - bird after bird after bird.

He also spotted a convenience store and he went in and got two large bottles of cold water from the refrigerator section. He paid for them and walked back to the park - walked up the master and said, “Want a cup of cold water?”

“Thank you,”  said the master. “Thank you.”

Just then a mom walked by - pushing a stroller with two kids in it. “Hey,” the master said, “Want a sip of cold water.”

“Thank you,”  the mom said, putting the bottle of water to her kids lips first - then her’s. And then she said, “Thank you. Muchas gracias."