Universal Utterings

for April 22, 2025

A Godcast

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04-22-25 John 20 v1518 I Am going to My Father

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The Gospel of John Chapter 20 V- 15 and 18

15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”* which means Teacher. 17 Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.

In John 20:15-18, we witness a profound and intimate moment between Mary Magdalene and the resurrected Jesus. After His crucifixion, Mary finds herself weeping outside the tomb, lost in sorrow and despair. When Jesus calls her by name, “Mary,” the depth of His love and recognition breaks through her grief. In this encounter, Jesus not only reveals His identity but also reaffirms the essence of her faith and belonging.

The significance of this passage extends beyond an individual’s encounter with Christ; it encapsulates the heart of our relationship with God the Father. When Jesus instructs Mary to tell His disciples that He is ascending to “My Father and your Father,” He emphasizes a pivotal truth: through Him, believers are adopted into a divine family. Holding on to Jesus means embracing the reality of our connection with God—the Father of all—who loves us and invites us to be in communion with Him.

This intimate encounter serves as a reminder for us today. When we hold on to Jesus—our Savior—we are holding on to the very essence of God. The love, grace, and mercy embodied in Christ lead us directly to the heart of the Father. Our faith is not merely a set of beliefs; it is a living relationship that empowers us to navigate life’s challenges with hope.

In moments of doubt and despair, let us remember Mary’s encounter with the risen Christ. Today, especially after losing Pope Francis, Jesus turns our mourning into joy, calling us by name and reminding us of our identity as children of God. As we hold on to the Savior of the world, we are simultaneously embracing the Father of all—inviting His love and grace into the fabric of our lives. 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 pray:

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 forever.

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. Day two Pope Francis

I am a poet obedient to Christ,

Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins

†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®

Ephesians 6:17-20

04-22-2025 John 20 v1518

**In the Garden of Grief**

In the shadowed garden, where sorrow weaves,

Mary’s heart trembles, as twilight deceives.

The stone rolled away, echoes wrenching the air,

In search of the Savior, her spirit laid bare.

“Mary!” He calls, and the darkness takes flight,

Her name, like a balm, brings the dawn’s gentle light.

Her tears turn to joy, as she recognizes His face,

The Author of life in this sacred embrace.

“Go tell of my rising, share news of my love,

The Father awaits, with arms stretched above.

My Father and yours, in His presence we stand,

Reconciled and renewed, in this marvelous plan.”

So we, like Mary, to the world must now run,

Bearing love’s message—the victory won.

In holding our Savior, we grasp heaven’s might,

For in Christ, we find the Father, our eternal light. Amen.

© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins

April 22, 2025 @ 04:33 AM EST

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**† God First Ministries, Inc. is a Roman Catholic Lay Ministry not sponsored by The Church but is accepted by the IRS as a Religious Charitable Org. and is exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations made through PayPal using [email protected], or given to GFM are tax deductible. †**