BREAD FOR YOUTH

  30 th Week Ordinary Time Friday Rev 7:2-14 Meditation Do You Know for Certain Someone You Know is a Saint? Happy Feast of All Saints. It is a great feast indeed. A feast of all declared and non-declared saints. The ultimate aim and purpose of life is to be happy in the present life and life after. All the religions tell us the way to be happy is to attain salvation. To attain salvation in Christian terms means to be in heaven. Those who lived well and lived according to the will of God will be allowed in heaven. All those who are in heaven are saints for us. Saints pray for us before the Father in heaven. They are model to us. During the liturgical year we have celebrated many feasts of declared stains days but today in particular we think of many who reached heaven but were not declared saints. They may be many of our known people who lived holy lives and died certainly in heaven. They have set an example of a good Christian life, and we need to think of them and...

  31/10/2024 30 th Week Ordinary Time Thursday Eph 6: 10-20 Be Strong in the Lord! St Paul exhorts the community at Ephesus to be strong in the Lord and put on the armor of God. We are asked to defeat the plans of the devil. We are not against the flesh and blood but against the cosmic powers of evil. He tells us to put on the breastplate of righteousness, take up the shield of faith, helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit. To live in this world against the forces of evil is to be ready for battle against evil. St Paul says that he speaks of himself as an ambassador in chains. There were pressures on St Paul from within and without, seen and unseen both external and internal. It is the experience of any genuine minister of God. His hands were tied down but he does not keep idle; he continues to work hard in that condition for the spread of the gospel. Let us work for the Kingdom of God. Do we speak of the gospel even though there are pressures all around ...

  30 th Week Ordinary Time Wednesday Eph 6:1-9 Meditation Choose Obedience Instead of Austerities Children are asked to obey their parents; slaves are asked to obey their masters and masters are asked to obey their authority. No one has ultimate authority or power. We are all in service and power or authority. We obey those who are placed in authority over us. We obey each other for a good cause. We have one master Jesus whom we are to obey. Today we would like to do our will and wish than to follow someone. God’s will and way are made known to us through the Word of God. God demands obedience and yet times in the daily happenings of life that are both good and painful. God leads us to love him and obey him. God knows what is best for us as a Father. Do we obey those who are placed over us? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  29/10/2024 30th Week Ordinary Time Tuesday Eph 5:21:33 Meditation Marriage is to Build a Church Every religion tells us that marriage is holy. In marriage wife and husband has to love and respect each other.   The love among them has to be mutual. Husband and wife have to go as equals in everything. They should take care to foster love and esteem between them. There should not be utility-oriented attitudes to each other. Each compliment for better living and growth in their human, physical, psychological and spiritual life. Life as a couple should build bond and communion of heart, mind and soul. They should help each other to be holy and enjoy communion with their creator and God. The love and unity between them is compared to the love between Christ and the Church. Jesus loves the Church and it is the result of his death on the Cross. Jesus came to save but that reality is made possible through the ministry of the Church the spouse of Christ. ...

  28/10/2024 30th Week Ordinary Time Monday Eph 2:12-22 Meditation Apostles are the Foundation of our Faith Faith in Jesus is not rootless and baseless. It has a strong foundation in Jesus whose teaching is translated and given life by the Apostles. The foundation for the faith in Jesus and the church is not just human and human thinking. It is divinely sanctioned and manifested through Jesus and his apostles up to this day. The believers in Jesus and the church are fortunate. How lucky we are to know the right doctrine and right faith in Jesus. There is no better gift we could have received and had than to be members of the living church of God led by the Vicar of Christ Pope, bishops, and priests. Are we grateful to God for we are given the gift of right faith? Sts Simon and Jude Apostles Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb                        ...

  26/10/2024 29 th Week Ordinary Time Saturday Eph 4:7-16 Life Teaches Us about God St Paul's writing to Ephesians tells us that God has given us gifts in Christ. These gifts are given to each at different degrees or levels. Jesus ascended and it would imply that he descended too. He went down to the lowest the dead and under the earth and he ascended into the living and to the highest heavens. Jesus loves us and knows humanity and their concerns. We are no more children and need instruction always; life teaches us to remain firm in the right doctrine that is taught through grace, inspiration and experience of life. The best lessons are learned in the school of life experience in both worldly matters and spiritual matters. Let us avail ourselves to the Spirit of God who will instruct God and his ways. Do we learn from our life experiences for our spiritual life? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  25/10/2024 29 th Week Ordinary Time Friday Eph 4: 1-6 Meditation Humility Unites St Paul humbles himself to exhort the community of believers to maintain unity in the community. Today we are divided based on any simple reason possible. People are found who can talk and work for unity. One is afraid of speaking and working for unity for such a people have no place in the world. The people who unite are rare and those divides are many. The rationale employed to unite the people of God was on the basis that we are part of the body of Jesus. We have one God, hope, faith and one baptism. These things convinced people to work for unity. These things are lasting values on which we can build unity in the faith community. Do we humble ourselves to bring unity? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  24/10/2024 29 th Week Ordinary Time Thursday Eph 3:14-21 Let us Praise God! The breadth and length and height and depth of the love of God is experienced and manifested in all saints. The love of God surpasses the knowledge of God. God dwells in our hearts. The knowledge about God gives information about God but the love of God comes from experience. Love of God is greater than the knowledge of God. The feeling and belief that God dwells in our hearts makes us confident in the love of God. God does much for us because he loves us. He loves us and blesses us more than we ask and think. God’s power is working in us. God will not abandon us. He is constantly at work in the world and in each individual. God is shaping the world and shaping everyone according to his eternal plan. Let us praise him and give him glory. Are we aware that God’s love envelops us? St Antony Mary Claret Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  23/10/2024 29 th Week Ordinary Time Wednesday Eph 3:2-12 Meditation The Gospel Belongs to All St Paul has been chosen to be the minister of Gentiles. God has revealed great mysteries of faith to St Paul. St Paul humbly acknowledges that he has been given revelation that has not been given for ages. It took time for God to reveal and for the faithful to comprehend the truth about God to all people of God. The mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs of the same body of Christ and partakers in the gospel of Christ. This truth has to be preached to the rulers and authorities on earth and in heaven. St Pual is a witness to this fact through his life and preaching. We can be certain and bold in the Lord that this is a truth that the gospel belongs to the Gentiles, too. Do we believe that there is only one God and that we are all his children? Fr Putti   Anthaiah Sdb

  29 th Week Ordinary Time Tuesday Eph 2:12-22 We Live in a Divided World   For Jews, the world is divided as chosen people of God and Gentiles. The people of the land and aliens. Those who follow the law and those who have no law. Those who belong to the Lord and those who do not accept the Lord. Those who have faith and those who do not have faith. People of Spirit of God and people of body and evil.   There is a difference between good and evil. Jesus through his death on the cross brings about unity between all sorts of people. Though one is a sinner and lost hope in everything; the death of Jesus brings about reconciliation between the divided groups of people and divided entities. Lord unites us for peace, joy and for eternal life. Let us believe in the redemption brought by Jesus through his passion and resurrection. Do we have hope in saving action of Jesus? St John Paul II Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  21 October 2024 29 th Week Ordinary Time Monday Eph 2:1-10 Are We Sons of Disobedience? Human beings have been disobedient to the promptings of the Spirit of God. We are disobedient because we follow the passions of the flesh and desires of the body. If we think about passions and desires, we will disobey God. Disobedience to the spirit of God can cause us harm. We have hope in our disobedience through the grace and saving action of Jesus. We are saved by Jesus to obey and follow the will of the Father. It is not just preaching and teaching but Jesus lived it by dying on the cross accepting the will of the Father. Jesus is the model and means to overcome our disobedience. Do we look for material gain in seeking God’s will? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  19 October 2024 28 th Week Ordinary Time Saturday Happy about the Church! St Paul was happy about the state of the community at Ephesus. He thought of them and thanked God for them. He prayed for them. He wished for their spiritual well-being. How nice to know the community was spiritually happy and healthy. Today, many Christian communities are materially well off, but they are behind in spiritual life. Remember that Jesus is the head of every Christian community. Let us entrust ourselves to Jesus's saving action. The Father has entrusted the Church to Jesus's care and protection. The Church is the body of Christ, and he is the head of the Church. The Church belongs to him, and it was born from the pierced side of Jesus. Do we entrust our Christian community to Jesus as its head? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  18 October 2024 28 th Week Ordinary Time Friday 2 Tim 4:10-17 Do We Harm the Messenger of God The associates of St Paul, Demas, Crescens, and Titus, left him to different destinations. Luke alone was with him. St Paul seeks Mark for he is needed in ministry. It is interesting to note that Luke alone was with him. When someone is with someone for a long time, it would mean the usefulness and faithfulness of the person. Today, we keep the feast of St Luke the Evangelist. Luke must have been a faithful minister with St Paul In the Word of God, we note that St Pual was harmed by Alexander the coppersmith; the person will have his reward. Yet, time and again, knowingly or unknowingly, we block the messengers of God and the message of God. One should take care not to harm the message of God. Let us care for the messengers of God. Are we aware of the times we have been blocking the messengers of God? St Luke the Evangelist Fr Putti Anthaiah   Sdb

  17 October 2024 28 th Week Ordinary Time Thursday Eph 1:1-10 God Made Us in Freedom God predestined us in love. Predestination is a theological standpoint that one is either destined for heaven or hell. If so, what is the use of our effort to live a righteous life? One loses hope and trust in God and oneself. There is a chance for a carefree life or an irresponsible life. St Paul tells the Ephesians that God, in his fullness and riches, has planned to unite everything in the appointed time. There is no automatic salvation or eternal. God has created us in his image and likeness; it would imply that we are made in freedom and responsibility. As long as one is responsible and free in love are expected to live up to the will of God in freedom. This fact places the responsibility on the shoulders of human persons to cooperate with God or not cooperate with God. The choice is with humans to be saved or not be saved. God is love and freedom. Do you know that love giv...

  16 October 2024 28 th Week Ordinary Time Wednesday Gal 5:18-25   Discern Between Good and Bad Do we know the works of the flesh? They are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and other ills. Be aware of them and take care not to be slaves of them. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control and these are even above the law. Know your good qualities of the Spirit and grow in them. Leave behind the evils of life. Can you make a difference between the bad spirit and the good Spirit? Bl Kunjachan Thevarparambil Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  28 th Week Ordinary Time Tuesday Gal 5:1-6 Are We Led by Law or Love? Every religion has good traditions, customs, and practices. Jews practice circumcision. It is a sign of the covenant with God and has health benefits. It has become a good sign of the relationship between God and Jews. At the coming of Jews and the Apostles, society was divided between circumcised and uncircumcised. It is not necessary to be circumcised to follow Jesus. Baptism in the Lord is enough. Above all, one needs faith and love in Jesus to be his followers. Faith and love are the guiding signs of Christianity. Jesus came to proclaim faith in the Father and love of the other. Do we follow the law or the love of God? St Teresa of Avila Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  14 October 2024 28 th Week Ordinary Time Monday Gal 4:22-24, 26-27,31 Meditation Be Sons of Promised Mother Abraham had a son through Hagar, a slave girl. Abraham had another son through Sarah. He had two sons, Ismael and Isaac. Ismael was born of Hagar, and Isaac was born of Sarah. One was born of the flesh, and another was born of the promise of God. One was born of a slave woman, and another was born of a free woman. Both the sons are sons of Abraham. They are of the two covenants—the sons of slavery and Jerusalem. We are sons of God and also slaves of sin and slavery. One has to be the child of God and free and not a slave of sin. There is a choice to be sons of God and be free. Yet time we choose to be sons of slaves. Let us overcome our inclinations of flesh and be sons of the promised mother. Do we live as Sons of promised mothers? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  12 October 2024 27 th Week Ordinary Time Saturday Gal 3:22-29 Mediation We are Made One in Christ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Gal 3: 28-29). The child is attached to its parents for care and protection. We are children of God and need to be connected to God. As God's children, we enjoy the privilege of sons and daughters of the Father in heaven. We are united and not divided. There are many forces in the world to divide humans. Let us be united in Christ. Do we look to be united in Christ? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  11 October 2024 27 th Week Ordinary Time Friday Gal 3:7-14 Meditation Faith Does Wonders in Life Abraham is the father of faith. Faith is a gift. Everyone has to treasure the gift of faith and grow in it. Acts of faith add to one’s faith and the faith of others. Abraham manifested faith and for generations, he is the model of faith. We are saved by the faith. Some believe that we are saved by law. Though law is important faith in God and the Saviour Jesus gives us eternal life. Those who believe that the law is everything are under a curse. Faith in God is above the law. What law cannot cancel and do good but faith in God does. God is the one who gave the laws to humans. The law is subject to the one who gave the law itself. Let us not trust in the laws, or human strength but have faith in the Lord. Faith does wonders in human life. Do give priority to faith than the law? St Pope John   XXIII Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  10 October 2024 27 th Week Ordinary Time Thursday Gal 3:1-5 Meditation May we Stop Moving Spirit to Material At times we need to accept that we are foolish in matters concerning spiritual life. We trust in the world and in ourselves to save ourselves. We know that the world and the law will do the needful. The law will indeed do good. It is not the law alone that is not enough for our salvation. In that sense, St Paul calls the Galatians foolish, but we are clever in the sense of the world. We begin with spiritual things in our lives and end with unspiritual. We begin our life in the Spirit of God and end in flesh. We begin life for God, and we end with evil. This can happen to any of us i.e. moving from spiritual to material. Let us be constant in Spirit in prayer and vigilance. May the Spirit take possession of our lives. Do we allow the Spirit to take control of our lives? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  9 October 2024 27 th Week Ordinary Time Wednesday Gal 2:1-2, 7-14 Meditation St Paul is the Champion of the Gentiles. St Paul went to Jerusalem after fourteen years of his conversion. He has not rushed to Jerusalem to make his prominence felt. He worked on himself. One has to work on himself/ herself for better service in the Lord. No good happens overnight the growth in the grace and spirit of the Lord is slow and steady. He does not want his purpose to be in vain but to be fruitful in the service of the Lord. We need to take care in the preparation of ourselves with humility and rigour for the ministry of the Lord. St Pual was chosen to be the champion of the Gentiles and the uncircumcised. He loved them and he preached gospel to them. He instructed them in the gospel with patience and kindness. He understood their culture and ethos to bring them to Christ. He stood by them to strengthen them in faith. The church is multicultural, multilingual and multinational b...

  8 October 2024 27 th Week Ordinary Time Tuesday Gal 1:13-24 Meditation True Conversion Takes Time After the conversion of Saul to Paul, he went to the Arabian desert for three years to pray and be instructed. There may not be overnight transformation in persons of different ranks. Every conversion has to be strengthened and sustained by prayer, reflection, and purification and then only taken up into action. Action without thought and inner strength will not bear fruit or such actions will not last long. St Paul after his conversion had spent considerable time in inner transformation. As St Paul began his public ministry the people in Jude were saying that the one who persecuted the church was instructing the people. The believers praised God for him and the marvellous of the Lord. They were happy about his works and preaching. Let us preach Christ despite our hardships and trials. Do we have the patience to grow in the grace of God? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  7 October 27 th Week Ordinary Time Monday Gal 1:6-12 Meditation God Reveals His Messages to His Servants. St Paul instructs the people of Galatia not to be confused about the teaching of Jesus and the gospel preached. There are always people with different opinions and philosophies of religion and the gospels that are not of Christ. God has given us the grace to preach Christ and Christ alone. Jesus is the Saviour. The one who teaches others that the untrue gospel is under the weight of the curse. Let us teach and preach Christ Crucified and Risen to give eternal life. The preaching and teaching of the gospel is not for approval, name and fame but to please God and not humans. The genuine preacher's origin of instruction is not of the human but of the Divine. In the case of St Paul, it was not his eloquence that was preached but the Christ's grace which used him to build the church. Let us check and take care not to preach of human knowledge but God’s revelatio...

  26 th Week Ordinary Time 5 October 2024 Meditation Even the Just Needs to Give a Thought to Repentance Job made up his mind to submit himself to the Lord. The Lord is great and beyond human understanding. Job is a just man but suffered a lot. God allowed the devil to test him.   We learn from that though Job was tested by the devil to suffer; on his part, he feels the need to despise himself and repent in dust and ashes. The attitude of Job is great, and we all feel we are just but let us have the humility to repent and transform ourselves. Everyone needs purification of body, mind and spirit. Job was purified and made his body, mind and spirit just like that of the innocent child. He was given back all the lost property, servants and children. He had a happy and good household after all this suffering. The just will regain all their name and fame for the glory of God. Job lived a hundred and forty years full of life. God’s promises are lasting and transcending th...

  26 th Week Ordinary Time 4 October 2024 Meditation God’s Ways are Wonderful. God poses many questions about the wonder of the world to Job to make him realise that he is not in control of the world and its ways. Anyone who observes the world and wonders; trusts that there is a force in control of everything. We believers call it God. God has power over nature and human beings. How nice to know that God is there to regulate the world and its movements. On Knowing the power and God’s purpose in this world and for humans; Job submits to God and his ways. God wishes only good for the creation and the humans. Job suffered immensely but knowing the power of God and the purpose of God for him; Job surrenders himself to God. He decides not to express anything against God but accepts God’s plan for him. Do we surrender ourselves to God? St Francis of Assisi Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  26 th Week Ordinary Time 3 October 2024 Thursday Be a Witnesses of God. Job life was a total failure and full of pain and sickness. His skin is affected. He tells us the words of wisdom that are to be written with an iron pen on a rock. “For I know that my Redemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the earth.   And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!” In his worst situation of the sickness, Job entrusts himself to God. One needs great faith and trust to bear the pain, sickness and evils of life.   Those in sickness and malady have to place one’s trust in the Lord and stand as witnesses. It is a wonderful act of a believer to witness to God in times of crisis and sickness. Job was able to give witness to God’s love and protection in the worst moments of his life. Such people will not be abandoned by God. Are we able to wit...

  2 October 2024 Wednesday Ex 23:20-23 Meditation God Sends the Angel The Lord promises to send the angel of the Lord before us to guard and protect us. Our elders always send someone with us or before us for our care and protection to the place we are going. The thoughts of the elders should not be taken as useless and unnecessary. It is their wisdom and love to send someone with or ahead of us. God sends the angel of the Lord with us to protect us. we should listen to him and follow his guidance. Human beings in their freedom could rebel against the God sent angels. God sent angels to many unseen and unnoticed good people in the journey of our lives. We should listen to them and follow their good guidance to be safe. The Lord’s name is the angel of the Lord and the well-wishers of our life. Do we have a tendency to rebel against the good people's guidance? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb