Universal Utterings

for January 22, 2025

A Godcast

UniversalUtterings.Com

01-22-25 Mark 3 v0107 Lawful to do Good rather than Evil

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The Gospel of Mark Chapter 3 V- One and Seven

1 Again he entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. 2 They watched him closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him. 3He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” 4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. 5 Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

In Mark 3:1-7, we find Jesus in a synagogue, where He encounters a man with a withered hand. The religious leaders, watching closely, seek to trap Him, questioning whether it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath. Jesus, aware of their intentions, responds with profound insight, asking whether it is right to do good or evil on this holy day. His righteous anger towards their obstinacy reveals the hardness of their hearts. This moment serves as an emotional reminder of how easy it is for us to harbor frustration and even anger toward those who resist goodness, clinging instead to their rigid interpretations of law and tradition.

As we navigate our own lives, we may encounter similar challenges. In a world filled with cynicism and indifference, it can be disheartening to witness those who seem unwilling to embrace kindness and compassion. This grief over the hardness of heart we observe in others can tempt us to withdraw or retaliate, but as followers of Christ, we are called to a higher purpose. We must remain steadfast in our commitment to prayer and service, particularly to the least, the lonely, and the languished.

Our mission is to embody the love and grace of Christ, even when faced with opposition. We must not allow the sourness of those around us to overshadow our commitment to living out the Gospel. Instead, let us be beacons of hope and goodwill, demonstrating through our actions the transformative power of salvation. In doing so, we honor our calling and reflect the heart of Christ to a world in desperate need of healing. 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. 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

†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®

Ephesians 6:17-20

01-22-2025 Mark 3 v0107

**Lawful to do Good rather than Evil**

In the synagogue's light, a man stands alone,

With a withered hand, his sorrow is shown.

Pharisees gather, their hearts cold as stone,

Watching for Jesus, their malice has grown.

"Is it lawful," they ask, their motives unclear,

To heal on the Sabbath, to bring hope near?

But love knows no limits, no time to adhere,

In the face of their cynicism, Christ's heart draws near.

With anger and sorrow, He sees their disdain,

A heart hard as iron, untouched by their pain.

"Is it right to do good?" He questions their claim,

Of rules that bind mercy, of shadows that reign.

"Stretch out your hand," His command breaks the night,

The man finds his healing, restored to the light.

In that sacred moment, all wrongs made right,

The grace of the Savior shines ever so bright.

So let us remember, in trials we face,

To serve the forgotten, to offer them grace.

For in loving our neighbor, we honor His place,

Living for Christ, we embody His embrace. Amen.

© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins

January 22, 2025 @ 04:33 AM EST

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