Universal Utterings®
for May 30, 2024

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05-30-2024 Sirach 51 V0608 Depths of death life mine neared

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The Book of Sirach Ch 51 v- Six thru Eight

6 I was at the point of death, my life was nearing the depths of Sheol; 7 I turned every way, but there was no one to help; I looked for support but there was none. 8 Then I remembered the mercies of the LORD, his acts of kindness through ages past; For he saves those who take refuge in him, and rescues them from every evil.

Identifying with the Cries of Ben Sira: A Personal Journey from Despair to Redemption

The ancient texts often resonate with the timeless struggles of humanity, and none more profoundly than the lamentations of Ben Sira. He spoke of reaching the point of death, plunging into the very depths of hell, and encountering a profound sense of abandonment. However, it was in his darkest moments that he remembered the mercies of the Lord, who saves anyone from every evil when asked. This narrative mirrors my own journey through the harrowing experiences of life, where I too found solace and redemption in the boundless mercies of God.

In my youth, I faced a traumatic event that drastically altered the course of my life. At nineteen, I was raped by a man, an event that left me shattered and adrift. The shame and confusion that followed were unbearable, driving me to the brink of suicide. The rope that was meant to end my life broke the railing, and I was left to grapple with an existence that seemed irreparably damaged. The trauma of that night led me down a path of self-doubt and hiding, where I lived a double life shrouded in obscurity, fearing the stigma and misunderstanding that often accompanies such experiences.

The weight of my shame and the relentless thoughts of suicide were compounded by my perceived failure as a parent. I felt as though I had let down my own children, unable to provide them with the stability and guidance they deserved. Like Ben Sira, I found myself crying out to the Lord in utter despair, feeling as though I had reached the very depths of hell with no one to help.

In my moments of deepest desolation, I remembered the mercies of the Lord. It was a faint glimmer of hope, but it was enough to prompt me to seek refuge in Him. The scriptures promise that God saves those who turn to Him and rescues them from every evil. Clinging to this promise, I cried aloud to the Lord, pouring out my heart and soul in raw honesty.

It was then that I began to understand the redemptive power of Jesus, who bore my shame and healed my sexual failures. The journey to healing was not immediate, nor was it easy. It required confronting my past, seeking forgiveness, and allowing the love of God to penetrate the deepest wounds of my soul. Yet, through this process, I discovered a profound truth: God’s mercies are indeed new every morning, and we must practice, pray and proclaim Him in everything we do. I learned to place God First in every thought, action and deed and seek to share the mercy of Salvation by the example of prudence and humility in everything I experience. I can only pray forgiveness reaches the heart and souls of the family I once called often and now silence in the inability to forgive. We know that only in God can we find true deliverance by His Son Jesus Christ and we must live this love, faith and hope of his mercy constantly forgiving even the silence. Amen.

Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.

At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.

I am a poet obedient to Christ,
Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins

Practice. Pray. Proclaim. ®
†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®
Ephesians 6:17-20

05-30-2024 Sirach 51 v-0608

**Mercy for my Silent Hell**

In shadows deep, where pain did dwell,

A boy of nineteen, in silent hell.

A man’s dark deed, a cruel disgrace,

Left scars unseen, a broken face.

In shame I ran, from hope estranged,

A double life, in twilight’s range.

Thoughts of death, like storms, did roar,

With a rope I implored, I sought release, but found no door.

In darkest night, my cries took flight,

To heavens high, I turned my sight.

No hand to hold, no friend to send,

Till mercy’s light did softly bend.

Jesus bore my shame, my fears,

He healed the wounds, wiped away the tears.

Now in His grace, I find my role,

To share His love, and soothe each soul. Amen.

© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins

May 30, 2024 @ 05:23 AM EST

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