Universal Utterings®
for August 2, 2024

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08-02-2024 Matthew 13 V-5458 House own honor without

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The Book of Matthew 13 v- 54 thru 58

54 He came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? 55 Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” 58 And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

In Matthew 13:54-58, we see an emotional illustration of the impact of disbelief as Jesus returns to His hometown. Despite His profound wisdom and miraculous powers, the people who knew Him as the carpenter's son and familiar with His family took offense at Him. Their lack of faith resulted in a significant limitation of His miraculous works among them. This sentiment of disbelief and familiarity breeding contempt can be directly paralleled to the struggle some individuals face in believing in the Eucharist.

The Eucharist, central to Catholic worship, is a profound mystery in which bread and wine are believed to become the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. For some, this belief is challenging, much like the townspeople's struggle to reconcile Jesus' ordinary background with His extraordinary teachings and miracles. The lack of faith in the Eucharist often stems from a similar place of skepticism and a reliance on the visible and tangible, rather than the spiritual and mystical.

Just as the people in Jesus' hometown questioned, "Isn't this the carpenter's son?" modern believers may question, "How can bread and wine be anything more than what they appear?" This skepticism can prevent a deeper engagement with the sacred mysteries of faith, much like how the disbelief of Jesus' contemporaries restricted the miracles He could perform among them.

The connection between these sentiments underscores a broader spiritual lesson: faith is essential for experiencing the fullness of divine grace and mystery. The people of Nazareth missed out on many blessings because of their lack of faith. Similarly, those who approach the Eucharist with doubt may miss the profound spiritual nourishment it offers. Faith invites us to transcend our limited understanding and embrace the divine mysteries with an open heart, allowing for a fuller, transformative experience of God's presence in 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 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

08-02-2024 Matthew 13 V-5458

**In Nazareth's Shadows the Eucharist Resides**

In Nazareth's quiet, humble town,

Where whispers of a carpenter's son abound,

He walked with wisdom, miracles in hand,

Yet found no honor in His own home land.

"Isn't this the son of Mary, plain?

His brothers, sisters—aren't they the same?"

They questioned, doubted, turned away,

And faithless hearts led Him to say:

"A prophet's not without his due,

Except at home, among his few."

In eyes that saw but could not see,

Their lack of faith brought no decree.

Miracles withheld, grace untapped,

In disbelief, their hopes were wrapped.

The ordinary masked the divine,

A veil over His sacred sign.

Oh, how they missed the Heaven's touch,

For faith was lacking, hearts were such.

In humble bread and wine today,

Do we too, falter on the way?

For in the Eucharist, a mystery deep,

Where faith alone can lead to keep,

The sacred presence, body, blood,

Transcending elements misunderstood.

Let us not be Nazareth-bound,

With eyes that see yet hearts unsound.

In faith, embrace what we can't see,

God's grace in humble mystery.

For miracles await the heart,

That opens wide and sets apart,

The doubts that cloud, the fears that bind,

And walks by faith, not sight, nor mind.

In Nazareth's story, a lesson clear,

Faith unlocks the divine so near.

So let us trust, with hearts alight,

And see the sacred in our sight. Amen.

© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins

August 2, 2024 @ 06:14 AM EST

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