BREAD FOR YOUTH

  1st February 2025 3rd Week Saturday of Ordinary Time Year One Meditation Heb 11:1-2, 8-19 Hope in God! Faith and hope in God lead us to love God. Abraham, the father of faith, hoped in God, and God loved him. God tested Abraham's love and faith by letting him go to an unknown land and sacrifice his son Isaac.   He went to an unknown land, but it was the promised land. He went to sacrifice his son, but God provided a ram in the bush to sacrifice instead of Isaac. God is trustworthy and loving God. God loves us immensely. We are unworthy of his love but cannot but love by his very nature. Do we hope in God’s promises? Year Two 2 Sam 12:1-7, 10-17 David sinned. Prophet Nathan makes David realize his sin with Uria. God says that he is going to bring calamity to the family. Son born of Uria dies. The Lord punishes and makes known his mistake to him. David says to Nathen that he has sinned against the Lord. David feels sorry and makes severe reparation, and the e...

  3rd Week Friday of Ordinary Time Year One Heb 10:32-39 Meditation Remember the Time of Struggle! It is good to recall the times of struggle and the way we overcame them, the endurance we had in moments of hardship to choose right and do good. Therefore, we should have confidence. Let no one lose confidence in oneself and God, who will assist us in time of need. We should not shrink or be hesitant but have faith and preserve in life. In times of trouble, endurance, Constance, and fortitude should keep moving with faith. Do we recall the times of struggle? Year Two 2 Sam 11:1-10, 13-17 David is tempted and commits adultery with Bathsheba. It was not by chance but well contemplated. Even eliminating Uriah the Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba.   Yet time some sins of humans are contemplated. They are done knowingly and willingly under the evil one. The evil and the weakness of human beings lead them to mortal sin. The only beautiful part of David's sin is when h...

  3rd Week Thursday of Ordinary Time Year One Heb 10:19-25 Meditation God is Faithful! We are fortunate to have Jesus, who cleanses our consciences with blood and washes our bodies in water. The Lord purifies us. He is faithful. He will not leave us orphans. He is God who loves his children. Let us live as brothers and sisters, doing good to each other and encouraging each other by word and deed. For the Lord is going to come, and we will be happy forever in the Lord. Do you know the Lord allows us to be purified? Year Two 2 Sam 7:18-19,24-29 David prays to God for the people of Israel. He prays for blessing him and giving him a house. He asks God to bless his house and household. David is comforted by God and his mercy. He is happy that he can pray. He trusts in God and believes that he will listen to his prayer.   God loved him, removed his guilt, and gave him peace and honour to him and to his generation. The Lord is a faithful God, and we can trust him. He ...

  3rd Week Wednesday of Ordinary Time Year One Heb 10:11-18 Meditation Forgive Yourself and Be Kind to yourself! Jesus once and for all offered the sacrifice and is now seated at the right hand of God. He is waiting for the enemy's fall and eternal life for all creation. It is true that Jesus has reconciled humanity with God once and for all. God has reconciled us to the Father, and we can be set free. We are liberated people of the Lord. We remember our sins; in fact, the memory of sins is a blessing so that we do not fall and fail again. The Lord promised us that he would no longer remember our sins. It seems like a paradox: God forgets our sins, and we remember them. Forgiving oneself is a gift to oneself, and faith to trust in his promises. Do we forgive ourselves? Year Two 2 Sam 7:4-17 God speaks to David through Nathan to build a house for him. God felt the necessity of a place for him. God lets David know through the prophet Nathan his desire to have a temp...

  3rd Week Tuesday of Ordinary Time Year One Heb 10:1-10 Meditation Dance in the Presence of God! The priests' offerings of the day need to be offered for sin to be forgiven every year. Once forgiven, one’s conscience should not weigh them down for every sin. Sin leads to evil and death. Forgiveness of sin leads to life. Sin can be forgiven through fasts, penances and offerings to God. Jesus has come to forgive sins, and his forgiveness is accomplished by doing the will of God. Jesus, by doing the will of God, once and for all, forgave the sins of humanity. It is the will of God that Jesus, by his obedience to the will of the Father, die and bring salvation for eternity. Do we believe that Jesus won salvation once and for all for us? Year Two 2 Sam 6:12b-15, 17-19 David was lucky to bring the Ark of God to his city. Obed-Edom was blessed with its presence. David brought the Ark of God to his own city to have God's blessing. While bringing the Ark of God, he da...

  3rd Week Monday of Ordinary Time Year One Heb 9:15, 24-28 Meditation Jesus is the New Covenant, the perfection of the Old Covenant. In the New Covenant, a sacrifice is offered, and sins are forgiven. Jesus brought salvation. In his second coming at the end of the world, he will save those eagerly waiting for him. The whole Church eagerly awaits the world to come. In the world to come, there will be no wailing and tears. In heaven, there will be holy people, those who are purified, and those who have been waiting for the Lord. Everyone's eternal home will be heaven. Do we eagerly wait for the Lord to save us? Year Two 2 Sam 5:1-7,10 David becomes king. God prepares him, anoints him, and keeps him in service. David is made king at thirty, and as a young man, he becomes king of Israel. He rules for forty years—a long reign. God gives him a long time of rule, power, and service. It could be because of the person's faithfulness to be a witness, to show his love, ...

  2nd Week Saturday of Ordinary Time Act 22:3-16 Meditation St Paul, the Champion of Christianity! The story of St Paul's conversion is captivating. It has captivated and transformed many people. St Paul's ideas and ideologies were different from what he believed after meeting Jesus on the way to Damascus and from what he preached and lived. Is it not a drastic turn in his life, but is it good or bad? He is, in a way, a champion of the entire Christian faith and doctrine communicated from his early writings, which are major parts of the New Testament. It was a blow to his career, but it was life to many who base themselves on the sound doctrine of faith he taught and lived. Do you believe God has plans which are not our own? Gospel Mk 16: 15-18 As St. Paul was charged with preaching and proclaiming the gospel, each minister of the Word of God is given powers of the Spirit to do the mystery of the Word and service. Jesus has promised that nothing can come in the wa...

  2nd Week Friday of Ordinary Time Year One Heb 8:6-13 Meditation God in his old Covenant in which the people were not faithful and the God dwelt with hard. Human beings of every age are weak to follow their own designs. They abandon the laws and the wonders God worked for them. God, in their hard-heartedness, abandons themselves. In the New Covenant, the Lord made humans with his son Jesus. Jesus ratifies the covenant with his blood. The New Covenant will last forever, not because human nature has changed but because the Lord has decided to save them for everyone and not remember the sins of humans. Do we believe that Jesus is the Redeemer? Year Two 1 Sam 24:2-20 Saul’s feelings grow to kill David. The search for David is on by Saul to kill him. David escapes a few times with the help of God. Saul does not give up on killing David. In one instance, David gets a chance to kill Saul but does not kill Saul; instead, he cuts off the corner of his rob. David leaves Sa...

  2nd Week Thursday of Ordinary Time Year One Heb 7:25-8:6 Men in their weakness appoint men who are weak as high priests to offer sacrifice for the law. God sends his only Son to offer eternal sacrifice one’s for all for the whole of humanity. Human priesthood is acceptable to God and people by law. Priests bring blessings to people and offer sacrifices acceptable to God.   Jesus' sacrifice on the altar of the cross is an eternal sacrifice—a sacrifice that united heaven and earth, the dead and alive, the time to come, and the time passed. Every priest is a priest not only by law but also by sharing in Christ's eternal priesthood. Jesus shares his priesthood with his Apostles to continue the sacrifice he offered at the Last Supper. Are we aware that we share in the common priesthood of God? Year Two 1 Sam 18:6-9; 19:1-7 Meditation Saul was jealous of David, for people were singing that Saul killed thousands, but David killed ten thousand. Saul told his son Jo...

  2nd Week Wednesday of Ordinary Time Year One Heb 7:1-3. 15-17 Meditation As Abraham was coming from war after having killed Kings, the High Priest of God, Melchizedek, met him and blessed him. Abraham gave him the tenth portion of everything to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means the just king. He has no origin like Jesus. Jesus has a long genealogy. He is the king, priest, and prophet forever. Jesus, like the priest Melchizedek, is going to be a priest forever. We know a priest has the power to bless, offer sacrifices, and bring forgiveness of sins. Jesus is a blessing to us. He offers sacrifices for us and forgives our sins. Jesus is the eternal priest who offered sacrifice on our behalf to the Father in heaven. Do we believe that is the eternal priest? Year Two 1 Sam 17:32-33, 37, 40-51 Meditation The story and the heroic killing of Philistine by David using a sling and stone are very impressive. A mighty man of power and valour dying in the hand of you...

  2nd Week Tuesday of Ordinary Time Year One Heb 6:10-20 We are not told to take oaths on heaven, earth, or anything or anyone else. If yet all we take an oath, we make it on those higher and more significant than us. In a way, an oath is done as a final confirmation. Some people even today take oaths to settle the matter, apparently. Oath-taking is not good, but we should settle the matter with yes or no. In this passage, God promises two things: God’s faithfulness and promise to Abraham and the reliability and commitment of the Word. The believers are also given faith and hope that point to eternity.  These two things are important for spiritual life. Let us grow in faith and hope, which will lead to love. Do we cultivate faith and hope in our lives? Year Two 1 Sam 16:1-13 Samuel Anoints David Samuel anointed Saul as king, and now he anoints David as king. David looked after the sheep and was not at home with the father. He was called and was chosen by the ...

  2nd Week Monday of Ordinary Time Year One Heb 5:1-10 The high priest is chosen among the people so that he may not be the weakness of people. He offers sacrifice on behalf of the people. Jesus is sent by Father to be human and offer sacrifice one’s for all for eternity. His sacrifice is everlasting. He offered sacrifice with loud cries and suffering. Though he was the son, he learned obedience by suffering and offering sacrifice for the salvation of humanity on the Cross. He prayed, Father, if it is your will, let this chalice of suffering be removed. As Father willed, he obeyed and died for us to give eternal life. Do we know we have an eternal priest who died for us? Year Two 1 Sam 15:16-23 Saul fought a battle and put an end to the Amalekites, but Saul's soldiers looted the place, the best sheep and bulls. They wanted to sacrifice to the Lord. Samuel opens the eyes of Saul and tells him that the Lord does not need sacrifices and burnt offerings. He loves obedie...

  First Week Saturday Ordinary Time Saturday Year One Heb 4:12-16 The Word of God is powerful. It can do the impossible and transform people. Let us read the Word of God. As we know, it is inspired and does immense good. Those who read the Word of God will not go astray. It sustains in times of fragility and temptation. Jesus is the supreme high priest. He was born among humans and lived among them, knowing their frailties. Jesus knew what it meant to be human. He will very well sympathize with us and lead us to believe that we can overcome our sin and guilt and live as sons and daughters of God set free forever. Jesus knew what it meant to be human. Year Two 1 Sam 9:1-4, 17-10; 10:1 Samuel Anoints Saul Meditation Saul, the son of Kish, had gone to look for lost donkeys. Samuel was on search to anoint someone for the Lord. On the first sight of Saul, the Lord speaks to Samuel to anoint Saul. He anoints Saul with a flask of olive oil he carried, pours on Saul’s...

  First Week Friday Ordinary Time Year One Heb 4:1-5,11 Meditation Keep the Sunday Holy! God created the world for six days and rested on the seventh day. Work is part and parcel of life. Humans are destined to slog and work and earn their food. God, in his love, wants them to rest. The art of rest is to enjoy life and to give glory to God for the wonderful creation he has given us. Some people work and work and lose their sense of purpose. Try to keep the Lord's Day holy, and you will see blessings come into your life. A day of rest to praise God and rest our bodies makes us please God and be creative in life. Do we keep the Sunday holy? Year Two 1 Sam 8:4-7, 10-22 The elders of Israel asked Samuel to appoint a king for them. They want a king, as all the other people have a king. Their king would lead them and fight battles for them. Samuel tells them the disadvantage of having a king. He tells them that the Lord is their king. But they would not listen to him....

  First Week Thursday Ordinary Time Implore Jesus to Heal!   Year One Heb 3:7-14 Meditation The Spirit of God is at work in everyone. The Spirit of God leads us on the right path. If one is not careful, one can harden one’s heart and disobey the Spirit of God. One has to take care not to go against the Spirit of God. Let no one fall into the deceit of evil and disobey the Spirit of God. To fall into the deceit of evil and not follow the Spirit of God is to fall into sin. We have to hold firm confidence in Jesus. Jesus overcame the evil one and accomplished the will of God in his life. We have to place our trust in Jesus and follow his path to eternal life. Do we obey the Spirit of God? Year Two 1 Sam 4:1-10 Meditation In the word of God today, the Philistines defeated Israel in the battle, and they even captured the Ark. We know the Ark is the presence of God for Israel. The defeat in the battle is a sign that the Lord was with them. Though the Ark was wi...

  15 January 2025 First Week Wednesday Ordinary Time Year One Heb 2:14-18 Jesus becomes a brother, a priest, a God to save us. The devil is present to take us away from God to evil. Everyone is tempted and tried by the devil and the world. We fail, fall and sin. The one who says that he/she does not go wrong is a liar and cheats himself. Jesus, being born a human person, experienced temptation in every way, but he did not sin. He overcame the temptations in the desert. Since he himself was tempted as a human being, he knew human frailty. He is able to help us in our weakness and forgive us so that we can be at peace with God and one another. Do we trust in the help of Jesus in our weakness? Year Two 1 Sam 3:1-10, 19-20 No one is born a hero or spiritual giant. Everyone who becomes acceptable in the sight of God is grown in the spirit of God gradually in the grace of God. God bestows his grace by his selection and ample opportunities. Everyone has to be schooled in...

  First Week Tuesday Ordinary Time Year One Heb 2:5-12 God made humans little less than angels. God took human form in the person of Jesus, the Son of God. It is God’s will that the angels worship and adore him. At Jesus's birth, angels announced and sang hymns of glory to him. At his resurrection they were present to witness his resurrection.  The angels always served him and sang his praises. God became human to raise humanity's lowly state to a high state of divine perfection. Jesus not only became human but called us his Brothers. He is not ashamed to call us Brothers. Let us acknowledge ourselves as his Brothers and love those with us on our life journey as Brothers and Sisters. Do we consider others to be our Brothers and Sisters in the Lord? Year Two Tuesday 1 Sam 1:9-20i Meditation Those who are in need of blessing and grace from God pray like Hannah as a drunk person. Eli thought Hannah was drunk, but her desire, passion and longing for a son was s...

  First Week Monday Ordinary Time Mediation Heb 1:1-6 Let Us Worship Jesus! God, in his goodness, manifested himself to humans. He loves them, takes their side, and calls them to his side. His love is unconditional. God sent his Son Jesus, who purified the world and people. He is seated at the right hand of God.   It is God’s plan that his Son Jesus be worshipped by humans and angels for the great redemption he brought for universal salvation. We can be confident that we will join the angels in praise and worship of Jesus seated at the right hand of God. Do we believe in the salvation brought by Jesus? Mk 1:14-20 Jesus begins his ministry by walking on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. His invitation is to repent and believe in the gospel, for the fulfilled time has come. This call is an invitation to all people. One need not be ashamed to repent and believe in the gospel. It is an invitation for all, irrespective of state, age and time. We always need to renew ...

  11 January 2025 Saturday Weekday After Epiphany 1 Jn 5:14-21 Meditation Learn to be Holy! God promises to give whatever we request in faith according to his will. God does give material blessings but much more spiritual blessings. Spiritual blessings are to be holy and sinless. Those who are in God cannot live in sin. They love God and live holy. The Lord has given us a means of sanctifying ourselves as we fail to live up to the sacred will of God. A life of holiness and living according to the will of God is pleasing to God. God helps everyone who tries to love him and those who seek to do his will. Do we wish to live holy and love God? Jn 3:22-30 Meditation Unless it is given above, it will not be granted to anyone. Any gift has to come from above, and no one can stop. John accepts that the baptism of Jesus is from above, and he is the expected bridegroom. Knowing that Jesus is the predicted Messiah, John says he must encourage, and I must decrease. An attitud...

  10 January 2025 Thursday Weekday After Epiphany 1 Jn 5:5-13 Meditation Think of God in Good Times! To be saved, one must be born in the Spirit, Water, and Blood. Those who are born of these belong to Jesus. They believe in Jesus. Those who believe in Jesus are saved. Some people say they believe in Jesus and do many things, but in the heart of hearts, they do not believe in Jesus and his saving action. It is time to check ourselves and note if our love for Jesus is personal and have faith in him as a saviour. It looks easy, but those who truly believe in Jesus are blessed. Do we have true faith in Jesus? Lk 5:12-16 Jesus cures a leper at his request, and he is made well. He tells him to show himself to the priest and not tell anyone. On the other hand, he goes and tells everyone, and in public, Jesus is known as a miracle worker. He could not go to the public much, for people were looking for miracles. He would withdraw himself to pray. Life is not only miracles...

  9 January 2025 Thursday Weekday After Epiphany 1 Jn 4:19-5:4 Meditation Is Our Love Genuine! We love God and love our Neighbours. We believe this, and we make others believe it. Such people also do a lot of work for name and fame. Sometimes, they may appear holy. The true love of God and others is seen and manifested in our love for the other and their well-being. It does not please people and God, but the fruit of one’s love for God is manifested in genuine relationships one keeps and promotes to have a true love for the love of God. Do we check whether our lives are genuine for others? LK 4:14-22 Jesus is the fulfilment of God's promise. At Jesus's coming, good news is proclaimed to the poor. The captives are liberated. The blind can see. The oppressed are freed. The year of the Lord is declared, and the reign of God has come to be. Jesus is the Messiah who came to save us. At his coming, we are saved. We have hope in him and can be bold in believing him. ...

  8 January 2025 Wednesday Weekday After Epiphany 1 Jn 4:11-18 God's love is Pure! God is love, and those who love God abide in him. Love of God and human love for God bring about purification in humans to have love among themselves and live in peace and joy. Those who love God learn to have communication with God or communion with God. Such people know the will of God, and one’s life fulfilment and meaning depend on knowing and living the will of God. God’s love leads us on the right path.   True, love is clear as water and pure as lily. Do we love God? MK 6:45-52 Jesus spends time in prayer after his ministry. It is difficult to find time to pray. Those who wish to pray even though they are busy will find time to pray. Blessed are those who find quiet time to pray. Prayer is a pleasurable talk with God. If you find time to pray slowly, you will find joy in prayer. Prayer time is not time wasted but time of gain and profit. Jesus tells those walking on the water...

  7 January 2025 Weekday After Epiphany 1 Jn 4:7-10 Meditation God is love God is love. He loved us first. Human beings learn to love from God. Human beings wish to live a life of love with whom they come in contact. It happens that some lack proper expression of love. Love is misunderstood and misinterpreted. Love is selfish and leads to hate and violence. Those who have God’s love live in charity and humility for the good of others and for their honour to give love return to God. Do we learn to love in the school of Jesus? MK 6:34-44 Meditation Jesus saw a great crowd and he had compassion on them for they were sheep without shepherd.   He preached for them and empowered them intellectually and spiritually. His care was comprehensive and total. As Jesus learned that they had not eaten and it was late and no food was available he gathers what they had and multiplies bread as to satisfy their hunger.   God is the one who cares for body and soul. God is i...

  6 January 2025 Weekday After Epiphany 1 Jn 3:22 – 4:6 Meditation Right, Faith is a Grace and Gift! Those who keep God's commandments and live according to God's will are blessed. They will receive blessings from God. Those who believe in Jesus, born as God in the flesh, are blessed. Some people do not believe this mystery. The children of God listen to God and his ministers. Blessed is those who do not believe in the wrong doctrine. Right things and right belief in God are gifts of God. Right faith and the right doctrine will save us from many problems in life. Do we have the right faith? Mt 4:12-17, 23-25 Mediation Jesus began his ministry by preaching the good news. He performed many wonders and healed many people. His name and fame spread far and wide. He was interested in the spiritual needs of people. He told people of that time and today that there is a need to repent and believe in the gospel. Conversion is not one time work, but it is ongoing. One has ...

  Weekday Before Epiphany 4 January 2025 1 Jn 3:7-10 Mediation A Missionary is on the Move Human beings are sinful. Today, many humans do not accept that they are sinners. God indeed forgave us through his passion, death and resurrection. God worked out salvation for humanity while humans were sinful. Human beings are capable of overcoming sin and evil. This is a positive outlook on human sinfulness. One needs to accept that humans are sinful, but one can overcome it with the help of God. Today humans need humility to accept that humans move with evil if they are not careful. The sinners live and continue to live in darkness and live in sin. Anyone who does what is good and right is in God and truth. The only measure for humans to have a check is to be in God to do what is right and be holy. If one lives in sin and evil, there is no chance for him/her to live a holy life. Evil will lead to evil only; evil will not lead to right. Evil will be overcome by the one who...

  Weekday Before Epiphany 3 rd January 2025 Friday 1Jn 2:29-3:6 Mediation Jesus is Gentle and Humble God has been good to humanity. He loved them and manifested his love for humanity; he took a daring step to be born among humanity. God’s love is so great that humans cannot comprehend it. Humans know the love of God to the extent it has been manifested through the parents, elders and men/women of God. Those who are in God will know, to some extent, the love of God. Humans have some idea of the love of God, but the human flesh leads us to darkness and evil. There are people with the grace of God who overcome the world and flesh as men/women of God. Those who experience God and those who know the love of God live a righteous life. Sin leads us to lawlessness and to evil. Those who live in sin cannot experience God’s love. God is holy, and there is no evil in him, and to meet God, one needs to be holy and pure. For God’s love to remain in one who purifies himself/her...

  Weekday Before Epiphany 2 January 2025 1 Jn 2:22-29 Meditation Sometimes, people mislead instead of leading on the right path. Some teach untruth and deceit. Let no one do this unless it happens because of ignorance. Let no one teach and preach untruth and evil while knowing the truth. If it happens, let God forgive such people and bless the innocent. Those who teach wrong may be in darkness, evil, and selfish. Each one is anointed, so each one has a truth and right knowledge with the help of the holy spirit. Human beings are capable of rejecting the holy spirit and its inspiration and guidance. One needs to pray to the holy spirit and seek to be guided by the holy spirit; then, one will be able to be on the right path and in the right living because the Spirit anoints everyone. For the holy spirit will not deceive or mislead, but one should submit to the guidance of the holy spirit. As each one belongs to God, God takes care of us as his own. ...