Universal Utterings
for April 1, 2026
A Godcast
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04-01-2026 Matthew 26 v1425 Surely It Is Not I Rabbi
The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 26 Verse 14 thru 25
14 Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, 16 and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. 17 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,* the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”’” 19 The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover. 20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” 23 He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. 24 The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” 25 Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”
In Matthew 26:14-25, we encounter an emotional scene during the Last Supper, where Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, conspires to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. This passage captures the depth of betrayal as Jesus openly acknowledges Judas’s impending treachery, demonstrating both His divine awareness and deep compassion amidst the looming darkness of human choice. Judas’s decision is a stark reminder of how selfishness and sin can lead us away from the light.
Much like Judas, each one of us has faced moments where we have prioritized our desires over our commitment to God. Our lives, tainted by selfishness and sinful choices, can mirror that betrayal, turning our backs on the stunning grace offered through Christ. Yet, even in our faltering, there’s a comforting truth revealed in this passage: the resolve of Jesus to fulfill His mission of salvation regardless of the treachery around Him. He knew the weight of humanity’s sin would culminate at the cross, and still, He chose love, mercy, and sacrifice.
Despite our shortcomings and failures, God has bestowed upon us a Savior. Jesus’s death on the cross was not only for the sins of Judas or even those of the few who stood by Him but for all humanity—an unending offer of grace that triumphs over our betrayals. In our most shameful moments, we can remember that we have been given Life Eternal, not because of our merit but through faith in the perfect sacrifice of Christ. How marvelous it is that even when we stumble, God’s love remains steadfast, inviting us back into a relationship marked by grace and redemption. 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
04-01-2026 Matthew 26 v1425
**Surely It Is Not I Rabbi**
In shadows deep where whispers play,
A plot unfolds one fateful day,
Betrayal’s kiss, a price so steep,
For thirty silver coins, a soul’s deceit.
The heart within, once pure and bright,
Now shrouded in the dark of night.
Judas, chosen, walks with grace,
Yet treachery hides behind his face.
“One of you will surely stray,”
The Teacher spoke in a sorrowed way,
The disciples’ hearts grew cold with fear,
“Is it I, Lord?” their voices clear.
In sacred meal, the wine and bread,
Foretelling all that soon would spread,
“This is my body, broken for you,
A sacrifice of my love so eternally true.”
And still, amidst the gathering gloom,
A traitor’s heart sealed his doom;
With whispered plans and secret glance,
He sealed his fate, he lost his chance.
“One who dips with me in the bowl,”
The Master spoke, with a grief-filled soul,
With every bite, a bond now frayed,
In sacred halls, trust betrayed.
Yet mercy echoes through the strife,
For even traitors can find eternal life,
For in the shadows, grace remains,
To redeem the lost from their sinful chains.
So heed the lesson, hearts beware,
The path of love demands our care;
In every choice, let truth abide,
And guard the spirit deep inside. Amen.
© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins
April 1, 2026 @ 04:49 AM EST
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