BREAD FOR YOUTH

  1 January 2025 Weekday Before Epiphany Wednesday 2025 Num 6:22-27 Meditation Give the Year to Jesus! The Lord is one who blesses. At God's blessing, one receives grace, power, positive strength, peace, and the will to face life. God’s blessing is needed for everyone. God blesses us and leads us on the right path. God’s blessing is not a one-time act of grace but a continual act of grace to keep us well. God will not abandon us in the dark moments of human weakness. The blessing of God is double in times of hardship. If we are not careful, we can reject the blessings of God. The blessing of God comes to us through the holy spirit, reading the word of God and living good life in the fear of God. Human beings, in their pride, can reject God’s blessings. One should be humble enough to accept the facts and the reality of life. It can happen sometimes when one is not in the reality of life. The reality is humans need to depend upon God’s blessing wh...

  31 December 2024 1 Jn 2:18-21 Mediation Be Aware of Good and Evil in Us! We are at the end of the year. We have had pleasant and unpleasant life experiences in the past year. The past year may have been a mix of good and bad. We might have experienced both evil and good. In all events of life, the Lord is with us. He protected us and led us through the ups and downs of life. There might have been a good spirit guiding us and an evil spirit at work in us. There is a belief that the Antichrist will come to destroy the world. The Antichrist is working with us in the form of evil. Let us be aware of the evil in us and overcome the evil one. In the last days, the evil one will come to destroy, but the Lord’s rule will prevail. But as we end the year, let us take note of the times we have acted as an Antichrist. Did we act like Anticosti at time? 31 December Gospel: Jn 1: 1-18 Meditation In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with G...

  30 December 2024 1Jn2:12-17 Meditation St John is writing to fathers, children, and young people to free them from the evils of life because of Jesus. He tells them not to love the world and those who are passing. Humans are more passionate about the temporary things of life. They are not attracted to lasting ones that give peace and Joy. The desires of the flesh, the attraction of the eyes, and the pride that comes from the world's riches do not belong to the Father in heaven. Those things that belong to God, heaven, and eternity give us lasting joy, peace, and happiness. They call for commitment and sacrifice on the part of individuals. The world and its attractions are always easy but lead to darkness and sadness. The way to happiness and light is challenging and less attractive. Do we choose life in God or death in the world? 30 December Gospel: Lk 2:36-40 Meditation God Reveals Himself to Those Whom He Loves The Prophetess, Anna, was at the servers of the...

  Christmas Octave 28 th December 2024 1 Jn 1:5-2:2 Meditation Human beings are aware and aware that they are sinners. If one says he/she is not a sinner, they deceive themselves. Accepting that one is a sinner is not something negative or putting down oneself. Acknowledging that one is a sinner is rising above the sin and sinful nature of human life. The rising in life towards God is possible and through the grace of Jesus for holiness. We have just judge and advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one who atone the sins of humanity and the whole world.   There are so many innocent children suffering in the world. The holy innocents were killed to eliminate the Saviour. Human beings can be ruthless to eliminate someone who is a threat. Such a nature of human beings does manifest itself subtly at times. Let us be aware of such an attitude and behaviour in us making victims of innocent ones. May the weak and voiceless be protected from all harm and evil....

  27 December 2024 1 Jn 1:1-4 Meditation God’s Love is Lasting! Experience is the best teacher. St John speaks of God’s manifestation in his writings. He had experienced God’s love both in person, in visions and as revelation. God’s revelations are manifested to the world. Those who have revelations of God can’t but keep manifesting them to the world. The world is in need of God’s manifestations and revelations. God has been revealing himself to humanity. This revolution continues to sustain people's faith and bring salvation to humanity. God’s manifestations are simple and practical; they are as good as giving a daily meal and protecting from possible evil. God does speak to us through nature, the word of God and elders.   God speaks to us for communion, fellowship, unity, forgiveness, peace, love and charity. God calls us to live in love and manifests the love of God to one another.   Another name for God is love and mercy. Where there is love, ...

  26 th December 2024 Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-8:1 Meditation Pray for your Enemies! Stephen was stoned to death. St Stephen is the first martyr of the Church. He was a killer, for he was preaching Christ. He was dragged openly and was stoned to death. Saul approved of the killing of Stephen. While Stephen was being stoned, he had a vision of God. He saw Jesus being at the right hand of God. The most positive aspect of Stephen's attitude towards the persecutors was his prayer for them. In pain and death, one has a negative attitude, and all the more towards those who harm. It is Divine grace to think and wish well for those who persecute. Such an attitude involves the attitude of Christ. Jesus, while dying on the cross, prayed, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’ Praying for those who directly harm and intend evil to us is the greatest act of love. Do we wish our deadly enemies well? Feast of St Stephen Gospel: Mt 10:17-22 Meditation Beware of the...

  CHRISTMAS LOVE 2024 Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb Trust God! Christmas is a joyful time of reflection, meditation, and contemplation on the mystery of incarnation—God becoming man. Humans are no longer matter and spirit; the presence of God dwells in them. This is proved by God becoming human in the person of Jesus, the Son of God. Mortal human beings have the assurance that they will be immortal by the graceful incarnation of Jesus.     Human beings are given hope in their hopeless situation in life. Hope takes life forward in the world, and hope in God leads us close to God and one another. Let us trust God and one another. Migration Jesus was born while on a journey, and there was no room for him. In one’s own settings, one is displaced, and there is no possibility to live dignifiedly. Consequently, human beings are moving to different places to look for work and a better life. Our forefathers were migrants. They were moving from place to place according to season ...

  24 December 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12. 14.16 Meditation Do All that is in Your Mind, for the Lord is with You. David suffered and prayed without ceasing for the wrong he had done. The Lord blessed him abundantly for his love for him. He promised Messiah to his descendants. He suppressed all his enemies and gave him a peaceful life. The Lord promised a lot of blessings both in the world and in the next. He is the greatest on the earth. His throne is established forever on earth and in heaven. The Messiah is the everlasting king of the earth and heaven. The Lord’s blessings to those who love him are everlasting. Do we know that the blessings of God are everlasting? Gospel Lk 1:67-79 Meditation     Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised a horn[a] of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his h...

  23 December Mal 3:1-4; 23-24 Meditation Lord Prepared the Way of His Son God promised that he would send the messenger for his coming. God has been sending many prophets to prepare the way of the Lord. Many prophets and people spoke about the coming of the Lord.   Any leader's coming is announced, and preparation is done. Preparation is part of receiving the leader. The coming of God to earth needs much more preparation and announcement. God took care for ages to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. God prepared the people of Israel and the entire world to receive the Messiah. Jesus' coming was announced by St John the Baptist, who prepared the way, which was begun through the prophets. To receive the Messiah, we need to be ready immediately. Preparation involves transforming our way of life to accept the Saviour as the master of life. How blessed are those who repent and are ready to receive Jesus as Saviour? Gospel: Lk 1:57-66 Meditation   When ...

  21 December Song 2:8-14 Meditation Let us Sing the Mercies of God For those in love, everything around them looks beautiful. The book of Song of Song describes the love between the love and the beloved. Love is the most beautiful thing that human beings can understand, and it could be attributed to God for his goodness to humanity. God is love. It is very simple and very often said and spoken by all sorts of people. God loves us without any limit. God so loved the world he sent his only Son to save us for eternity. We are preparing for Jesus's birthday. God loves humans beyond human understanding. He wants us to enjoy that eternal love while we are on earth and blissful love in heaven forever. He wants human beings to be contented and satisfied without any worry or sadness. Evil leads to unhappiness and apathy in humans. Another name for God is mercy and love. Let us trust and experience God's mercy and love. Do we long to experience the mercy and love of God? G...

  20 December Isa 7:10-14 Meditation Let us Believe in the God’s Revelations Human beings look for signs all the time. Signs guide them in life. As we travel on the road, we use signs and symbols to make our journey safe and sound. Those searching for God, meaning, and direction in life look for signs. King Ahaz does not want to ask the Lord for a sign. He does not want the Lord to test him. Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord promises us a sign that the young woman will bear a son, and he shall be called Immanuel. We know Immanuel means God with us. When God is with us, we only have signs or do not need any signs to follow, for the Lord will guide us on the right path. The presence of God with us brings us joy and happiness. We are eagerly waiting for the birth of a child to the woman who would cancel all our pains and sorrow and give us unending joy and happiness. This longing is the long of generations of people and even the present generation; everyone eagerly longs ...

  19 December Judge 13:2-7,24-25 Meditation Let us Share the Joy Manoah is a man from the tribe of Dan, the father of Samsons, and the judge. Manoah’s wife, who was barren, conceived at the announcement of the angel. The angel said the boy shall be Nazirite.   Nazirite is the one who does not drink wine, does not eat unclean food and does not cut his hair. St John the Baptist lived likewise. God gives children to the barren parents and makes them special. The child who was born to this parent was named Samson. We know Samson for his strength. The couple who does not have children prays for the children, and they get children after a long time. Such couples will be grateful to God and care for the child well. Children's gifts to the couple are considered to be something desired and longed for. It is not mutual love for the couple that is solely important, their love taking the form of another human person with whom the love is shared. God's blessings should be remembe...

  18 December Jer 23:5-8 Meditation The Days of Honesty and Integrity are Coming The day will come in which there will be honesty and integrity in the Land of the Lord. For ages, the people of God are far away from their soil. The Lord will bring them back to their soil, and they will live in their own land. We may be lost in life or in our efforts to live life; the Lord will bring us hope and settle us in life well. In the Lord, his people will express honesty and integrity. We are displaced in life and society in many ways. The day will come when we will be placed firmly in one place. The Lord is the one who will make our lives worth living. He will give us a life of integrity and purpose. Let us hope in the Lord, who unifies all our efforts to a good end. Do we look for a life of honesty and integrity? Gospel: Mt 1:18-24 Meditation Joseph wanted to Divorce Mary Informally The birth of Jesus is a mystery. He was born of Mary, who was concei...

  17 December Is 49:2.8-10 Meditation God will Gather the Sons of Jacob Gather sons of Jacob and listen to the words of your fathers.   Take courage and overcome all the hurdles for power and rule will not pass from Judah. People of every nation will render obedience to the Lord. The Lord will come to rule his people.   God’s people will be protected and strengthened. The Lord comes to guard, protect and give back the lost hope in the Lord. He will rule over his people from generation to generation. They will be obedient to him.   The Lord assures his people of safety and security. God takes care of the human needs of every kind. At his coming, all will have the courage to face life. Do we place our hope in the Lord? Gospel: Mt 1:1-17 Meditation …Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. (Mt 1:16) Jacob was the blessed one of God. Joseph means God will add. Mary rep...

  16 th December 2024 3 rd WEEK ADVENT Monday Is 56:1-3,6-8 Meditation Lord will Gather Us in the House of Prayer Lord invites us to care for justice and integrity to be considered in life. Let everyone keep the sabbath holy, and let no foreigners feel that he does not belong to the Lord. May all keep the sabbath and be acceptable to God. There may be unity and peace among all people of God. Lord comes to unite people and bring about peace and life. The Lord will make his people joyful in his house of prayer. His house shall be a house of prayer for all people. He will accept their sacrifices.   The purpose and wish of the Lord is to gather all people and even the outcasts of Isreal to his house prayer. The Lord gathers his people into his house of worship. Do you consider gathering people in the Lord's name to be grace? Gospel: Jn 5:33-36 Meditation   “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.   Not that I accept human...

  14 th December 2024 2nd Week Advent Saturday Sir 48:1-4, 9-11 Meditation Know and Believe in True God Elijah is the Messenger of God. He proved to the false prophets that Yahweh is the true God. He is a powerful prophet of God. The heavens were shut at his word, and fire was brought down. He was taken up to heaven in the chariots. Altogether, the Catholic Church has taught by the universal and ordinary magisterium that Saints Enoch and Elijah were assumed into Heaven, and it teaches dogmatically and therefore infallibly that Mary was assumed into Heaven; that it is acceptable as a pious belief that Saint Joseph also was assumed into Heaven. Ultimately, God protects the people of Israel through the prophet Elijah. God is coming to bring humans everlasting happiness. He will make humans live but not perish. God has plans for humanity to be joyful. Happy are those who see and witness the wonders of God, as Elijah has seen and witnessed. He has withstood the test ...

  13 th December 2024 2nd Week Advent Friday Isa 48:17-19 Meditation God teaches what is right to his people and guides them on the right path. He does not look for his advantage and interest; his interest is the concern of his people. He is happy and joyful when humans live right and do well in life. God rejoices in the good of humans and wishes them well. God, being born as a human person, accomplishes this ultimate good of humans. Many accept that life is good and has a lot of joy. It is assumed that humans run into hardships and difficulties in life, sometimes beyond their limits. In such cases, one needs God’s grace and help to overcome evil and what humanity lacks. So, God will not abandon humans to themselves but come down to be with them to understand and uplift humanity from all the impending evils and weaknesses. Do we know the love that God has for us? Gospel: Mt 11:16-19 Meditation Do We Attribute Bad to Good People?   “To what can I ...

  12 th December 2024 2nd Week Advent Thursday Isa 41:13-20 Meditation You shall rejoice in the Lord and glory in the holy One of Israel. The God of Israel is the God of assurance. He will protect his people from all harm. Human beings fear for they are mortal and corporal. Fear causes many problems in human beings. The way to overcome life in the world and the next is to have assurance of God. If God is with us, who/what can be against us? Today's reading speaks of God’s protection and support for humans and everything in nature. God is not one who abundances human needs. He takes care of human needs even before we ask. God created humans out of love, so he will care for them. Jesus will be born to protect and assure us that all will be well for humans. Do we trust in the assurance of God? Gospel: Mt 11:11-15 Meditation St John the Baptist is Greatest of All Jesus speaks highly of St John the Baptist. He says no one born of women is as great as St John the B...

  11 th December 2024 2nd Week Advent Wednesday Isa 40:25-31 Meditation Humans speak of God in human language and terms. There are many ways of describing God. God is a God of power and strength. God can be spoken as he is not something, he is not that, and he is not this. God is not weak, God does not faint, God does not weary, and so on. By speaking of God likewise, we affirm what God is or the nature of God.   Humans can say something about God and come to know him. On the contrary, old and young humans are weak, weary, and pale; the Lord enables humans to be strong, robust, steady, and steadfast.   Humans are fragile, weak, and faint in the journey of life. Some drag on with life. The youth lack zest for life and live uncherished lives. The Lord will give such youth lasting joy and strength to live with zest and zeal for life. Do you know that God can give youth zest and zeal in life? Gospel: Mt: 11:28-30 Meditation Jesus is gentle ...

  10 December 2024 2nd Week Advent Tuesday Isa 40:1-11 Meditation The Lord Comforts Us! Some people are given a charism to comfort others. Their words and gestures were very comforting. Humans are in flux, chaos, distraction, and fear. They are looking for someone to comfort them. In the present world, nothing is certain. Life has become momentary, and nothing seems to give permanent joy and satisfaction. In people's lives, there is a lot of trickery, cheating, and evil at work. Humans become victims of evil, one sort or the other, and all kinds of evil fall on humanity. In such a world, there is a great need for humans to have comforters. God only can give humans true and lasting comfort. God protects us like a shepherd. The shepherd guards and guides on the right path from all the wild animals. The shepherd knows his sheep, and he does the needful. Likewise, Jesus will come to our homes and give us lasting comfort and solace. Do we seek lasting comfort or ...

  9 th November 2024 2 nd Week Advent Monday Gen 3:9-15, 20 Meditation God asked, “Woman, what have you done?” The woman replied that the serpent tricked me, and I ate. The woman has passed on the responsibility to the snake.  Many of us pass on the responsibility to the others. Humans do not take responsibility for their actions and behaviour. In all the games, a defence mechanism is utilized to avoid the personal responsibility of action. Most problems can be tackled well in individual life and society if one is humble enough to accept responsibility. It is a simple fact, but most people pass on the mantle without responsibility. To set foot firmly and accept the truth is tricky; if one does so, one is free. Let us learn to take responsibility for both good and bad. Mother Mary has taken responsibility by accepting to be the mother of Jesus. She said let be done to me. Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Do we make up our mind to accept responsibil...

  7 th December 2024 1st Week Advent Saturday Isa 30:19-21, 23-26 Meditation God is the God of wonders. He loves humans, and he does many marvellous things for them. We human beings understand things in signs, and we look for signs from God. God gives us clear signs for our life. God is not a God of ambiguity. Our God is the God of clarity and transparency. He does not deceive us or guide us on the wrong path. Our God is the God of truth, justice and equity of human understanding. He guides us through his word of God and his signs in our world. He lets every human person walk on the right path. He will mend the lives of people, especially those whose lives are broken and shattered. Our God is the God of hope. Today, there is hopelessness and despair in the world. God comes to give us hope. At the coming of Jesus, there will be hope, protection and guidance. ` Do we trust in the guiding hand of God in our life? Gospel: Mt 9:35-10:1, ...

  6 th December 2024 1st Week Advent Friday Is 29:17-24 Meditation At the coming of the Lord, there will be good days. The deaf will hear, and the blind will see. The lowly will rejoice, and the poor will praise God; the tyrants shall not exit, ridiculers will disappear, and all the evil ones will be disposed of. A Good time will come when those who are in error will learn to be wise, and the grumblers will accept the teaching of the Lord. There will be change in the world and among the people. Everyone, at every time and age, looks for change for good. One has to transform himself/herself and the situation around oneself. Do we look for change around us? Gospel: Mt 9:27-31 Meditation Jesus, Son of David, Have Mercy on Us. As Jesus went on, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” (Mt 9:27). The greeting and calling out of the two blind men are apt to address Jesus.   Jesus is the Son of David. He is the expe...

  5 th December 2024 1st Week Advent Thursday Isa 26:1-6 Meditation For those passionate about something and for those who have victory, they can make one proud and forget of their humble state. Victory can also give good self-esteem and help build good character and life. Those who have experienced victory, blessing and the grace of God can have steadfast minds. They enjoy peace and trust in the Lord. Vaine glory and vain victory only destroy the person. Blessed are those who are faithful in their thought and action. Such an attitude leads the person to joy, contentment, happiness and Divine peace. The saviour who will be born will bring peace of heart and mind to the world and people. Do we long to have a steadfast mind? Gospel: Mt: 7:21, 24-27 Meditation           Let us Build the House well! “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house ...

  4 th December 2024 1st Week Advent Wednesday Isa 25:6-10 Meditation Advent is a time for the preparation for the coming of the Saviour and a time to look forward to the coming of the Kingdom of God. At the coming of the kingdom of God, each will have everything in abundance. The people were in want of many things in life not only temporal things of life but also in want of emotional and spiritual needs. At different intervals of human life and history, people have been looking for the involvement of God.   There are moments or interventions of God in the life and history of human salvation. At times God makes an entry into the lives of families and individuals to uplift them and come to their rescue. Humans are capable of recognising the coming of God into their lives. Such intervention of God into their lives is marked by preparation and great celebration. The moments of God’s visit in the lives of people are treasured and remembered with gr...

  3 rd December 2024 First Week Advent Tuesday First Reading: Jer 1:4-8 Second Reading: 2 Cor 4:7-15 Gospel: Lk 10-1-16 Meditation The Lord Cares for Missionaries God's ways are wonderful. God chooses some for his mission. The mission is for the good of humanity. The mission belongs to God and so God empowers those whom he calls. Those who are called are weak and incapable, but God's grace helps them accomplish impossible missions. Human beings are weak. It is true and a fact, but they are treasures in earthen jars. Earthen pots are fragile and can be broken easily.   The treasure in them is great. Though human bodies are mortal, the spirit in us is very precious. Let us value the human body soul and spirit. We are precious to God. God loves us. The Lord appointed seventy-two to send them two by two where he wished to go. He instructed them well for the mission to care for themselves and others. The Lord told them the labourer deserved his wage and food. T...

  2 nd December 2024 1st Week Advent Monday First Reading: Is 2:1-5 or Is 4:2-6 It is an invitation to go to the mountain of God, which they call Jerusalem. All come to the mountain of God, and numerous people come to God’s house, the temple of the God of Jacob. God's message comes from Jerusalem. There will be no more war but peace. Jacob's household is invited to walk in the light of the Lord. Blessed are those who live in Mount Zion and Jerusalem.   The Lord cleanses the filth of the place and gives his protection and care. His presence will be there in Jerusalem. He will come to visit them. The glory of God will be like a tent to give shade from heat and shelter from the storm and rain. Do we think of our origins? Gospel: Mt 8:5-11 Meditation Keep Your Trust in Jesus The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. (Mt 8:8). It is a great act of faith on the part o...