Universal Utterings

for July 18, 2025

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07-18-2025 Matthew 12 v0108 I Desire Mercy Not Sacrifice

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The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 12 Verses One thru Eight

1 At that time Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what Daviddid when he and his companions were hungry, 4 how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? 6 I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you knew what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned these innocent men. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

In Matthew 12:1-8, we encounter a significant moment that highlights Jesus' teachings on mercy and the nature of true righteousness. In this passage, Jesus' disciples are criticized by the Pharisees for plucking grain on the Sabbath, which the religious leaders deemed unlawful. Jesus responds by referencing the actions of David when he ate the consecrated bread, a privilege reserved for priests. By bringing up this example, He underscores the idea that human need and compassion take precedence over ceremonial law.

When Jesus declares, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” He critiques the rigid legalism that the Pharisees embodied. This profound statement reveals a core principle of Jesus’ ministry: God values mercy and compassion over mere ritual adherence. Sacrifices were a crucial aspect of the Jewish faith, representing devotion and atonement. However, Jesus emphasizes that these outward expressions of faith become hollow if they do not stem from a heart of mercy.

The essence of Jesus' message is that God’s desire is for His followers to embody love and compassion in their actions toward others. Rituals and sacrifices can become empty practices if they do not reflect a genuine concern for humanity. The call to mercy goes beyond mere compliance to the law; it demands an inner transformation that prioritizes kindness and empathy.

In a world often marked by judgment and strict adherence to rules, Jesus invites His followers to cultivate a heart of mercy—one that looks upon the needs of others with compassion. This principle not only challenges the religious norms of His day but also calls us today to reflect on how we can extend mercy in our interactions and live out the core of God's 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. 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

07-18-2025 Matthew 12 v0108

**I Desire Mercy Not Sacrifice**

In fields of grain on Sabbath day,

The hungry walked a winding way,

With plucked ears held in humble hands,

Their need ignored by law's demands.

The Pharisees, with eyes of stone,

Declared the law their only throne,

Yet Jesus spoke with voice so clear,

“Mercy's call is far more dear.”

He turned to David’s ancient tale,

Of hunger met where laws could fail,

For grace transcends all rigid lines,

In human hearts, true love entwines.

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice,”

He called to hearts, both meek and nice,

For outward acts, though pure in part,

Must flow from love within the heart.

So let us stand with open eyes,

Embrace the lost, the hurting cries,

In mercy’s arms, we find our place,

Reflecting God’s unending grace. Amen.

© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins

July 18, 2025 @ 04:41 AM EST

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