Universal Utterings

for May 18, 2025

A Godcast

UniversalUtterings.Com

05-18-25 John 13 v3135 Love One Another

http://universalutterings.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05-18-25-John-13-v3135-Love-One-Another.mp3

The Gospel of John Chapter 13 Verses 31 thru 35

31 When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 [If God is glorified in him,] God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. 33 My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you. 34 I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. 35 This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

In John 13:31-35, we delve into a profound moment as Jesus prepares His disciples for the challenges ahead. After Judas leaves to betray Him, Jesus proclaims a new commandment: “Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” This was not merely a suggestion; it was a radical mandate rooted in the very nature of Christ’s love.

It's crucial to recognize that Jesus didn’t condone or “like” the actions of those who were about to torture and crucify Him. He didn’t dismiss the betrayal by Judas or the forthcoming injustices he would face at the hands of the Jewish leaders and Roman authorities. Yet, despite the malice directed at Him, Jesus chose to love infinitely. He exemplified the call to love even when it feels impossible. This includes loving those who may inflict pain, betrayal, or hardship upon us.

In our own lives, we will undoubtedly encounter individuals whose actions grieve us, those we may describe as enemies or adversaries. In those moments of anger, resentment, and hurt, we must remember Christ’s example. God calls us to rise above our feelings of spite, urging us to extend love even when it feels unwarranted.

Jesus didn’t love begrudgingly; His love was transformative. It’s a love that seeks to understand, to forgive, and to heal. As we strive to embody this commandment, let us focus not on our feelings of like or dislike but on the larger picture of God’s love for all humanity, including those we might struggle to embrace. In doing so, we not only follow His command, but we also reflect His grace in a world desperate for hope and healing.

Being a prisoner, whether guilty or not, presents a profound opportunity to embody the love that Jesus exemplified in John 13:31-35. In moments of confinement, individuals often grapple with feelings of despair, isolation, and judgment from society. Yet, even within these walls, one can choose to reflect God's love, embracing the command to love one another as Jesus loved us. This love is not contingent on one’s past actions or moral standing; rather, it transcends human limitations and is rooted in grace and forgiveness.

A prisoner can instill hope and compassion, offering kindness to fellow inmates and staff alike, showing that even in the darkest circumstances, love can prevail. By fostering a spirit of unity and understanding among those who may feel marginalized or forgotten, they can become beacons of light, demonstrating that everyone, regardless of their past, is worthy of love and compassion. This powerful enactment of love serves as a testament to the transformative power of faith, reminding us that even in confinement, one can find freedom in the embrace of God's boundless love. 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. Novena Johnny Day four. 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

05-18-25 John 13 v3135

**Love One Another**

In the dim light where shadows fall,

A new commandment echoes through the hall,

“Love one another,” Jesus said so clear,

A call to unite, a message we hold dear.

A soon betrayer’s kiss weighed heavy on His heart,

Yet love endured, refusing to depart.

In the face of pain and bitter strife,

He taught us the essence of true eternal life.

For love knows no borders, no wrongs to count,

It flows beyond the chilly mountain’s mount.

Even when we struggle to completely understand,

Each heart is invited to join His eternal hand.

So let us love, as He loved, profound,

Extend grace and mercy where pain is found.

In unity and kindness, let our voices forever raise,

Reflecting the Savior’s love in our earthly days. Amen.

© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins

May 18, 2025 @ 05:04 AM EST

® Universal Utterings ® is brought to you by;

**† 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. †**