Universal Utterings
for July 4, 2026
A Godcast
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07-04-2026 Matthew 9 v1417 Your Disciples Do Not Fast Why
The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 9 Verse 14 thru 17
14 Then the disciples of John approached him and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast [much], but your disciples do not fast?” 15 Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. 17 People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”
In Matthew 9:14-17, we find a profound teaching on the nature of fasting and the call to live fully in Christ. When the disciples of John the Baptist asked why Jesus’ disciples were not fasting, Jesus responded with a powerful metaphor: “The wedding guests cannot mourn while the bridegroom is with them.” Here, He illustrates that His presence brought joy and fulfillment, a time of celebration rather than mourning.
The challenge, however, lies in the call to learn how to fast—not as a mere ritual, but as a deepening of our communion with Him, allowing us to embrace His way of life rather than the fleeting values of the world.
As followers of Christ, fasting serves a dual purpose: it draws us closer to God and helps us identify what truly sustains us. In a world often marked by distractions and superficial pursuits, fasting encourages us to reflect, pray, and ultimately align our hearts with Christ’s teachings. By submitting our desires and patterns to Him, we allow the Holy Spirit to reinforce our commitment to living in His grace.
On this special day, July 4, as my wife and I celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary amidst the vibrant fireworks, I am reminded that she is indeed my soulmate in Christ. Our journey together has been marked by the shared understanding of walking in faith, prayer, and love. Just as Christ invites us to fast and seek deeper communion with Him, so too have we cultivated a relationship built on spiritual connection and mutual growth. May we all learn to fast, not just from food, but from the distractions of the world, living instead in the fullness of His 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 Day Nine for James employment. 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
07-04-2026 Matthew 9 v1417
**Your Disciples Do Not Fast Why**
In the dusty lanes where the people convene,
Disciples approached with a question unseen,
“Why do the Pharisees fast and we cannot?
When Your joy is with us, our spirits won’t stop.”
A wedding feast, laughter, and cheer,
In the presence of love, there’s nothing to fear.
He answered with wisdom, profound and divine,
“Can the guests mourn while the Bridegroom will shine?”
For a time they shall feast, in His light they reside,
But the day will come when His presence will hide.
Then they’ll yearn for the days of the grace,
When the Bridegroom departs, leaves a void in the space.
He spoke of new cloth and of wineskins that burst,
Old ways can’t contain the new life and thirst.
For the patch on the old will not hold true,
And the wine of the Spirit brings joy ever new.
So let go of the binds that tradition creates,
Embrace what is fresh, let love permeate.
In the heart of the feast, where the faithful abide,
Life flows in abundance, with the Bridegroom as our guide. Amen.
© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins
July 4, 2026 @ 04:34 AM EST
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