BREAD FOR YOUTH

  7th    Week Saturday of Ordinary Time Year One Sir 17:1-13 Meditation God was Happy to Listen to Human Voice! God made humans in his image. He loved them. He gave them the capacity to see, hear, smell, taste, feel, reason to think, intelligence to know, will to decide, imagination to visualize, and heart to love. God created humans as the crown of creation. God was happy, and he was delighted to hear their voice and praise. Do we praise God? Year Two If anyone is suffering, let them pray. If anyone is cheerful, let them praise God. If anyone is sick, let the elders lay hands on them and pray over them. If anyone is a sinner, let them confess, and they will be forgiven. Prayer can heal and forgive sins. God hears the prayers of humans. If anyone has sinned and gone away from the community, take responsibility for bringing them back to God. Do we pray and seek God’s help in need? Gospel Mk 10:13-16 Jesus loved little children. He felt at home among t...

  7th    Week Friday of Ordinary Time Year One Sir 6:5-17 Meditation Take up the Cross! Most good or bad friendships are for age, time, need, seasons, etc. True friends will stand by at all times. It is hard to find and rare to get such friends, as we often fulfil our needs today and leave things behind, as well as in friendship. The scripture says to make good friends and keep them and not be cheated by one’s friends. Are we faithful to our friends? Year Two James 5:9-12 St James tells us not to grumble. Most often, those things one cannot tell the person directly are said to others in grumbling. Most of the time, this does the work, but in an evil way. Grumbling leaves one guilty and sad and makes others suffer. Be firm and steadfast, take time, tell people properly, and get work done properly with love rather than grumbling to make things bad for all people. Do we have the courage to tell the right people the right things? Gospel 10:1-12 What Go...

  7th    Week Thursday of Ordinary Time Year One Sir 5:1-8 Meditation Do We Look for Bodily Ease? Sir 5:1-8 One must not take life at leisure. Be observant of all that one is expected. Do not entertain the evil in life and say God is merciful. God will punish if one does not follow God’s commands. Do not think that God has delayed in punishment. Do not take pleasure in dishonest wealth. Be faithful to the Lord, live well, and God will bless you. Do we take the commands of God too easily? Year Two James 5:1-6 Rich people are blessings from God. They have a responsibility as they enjoy the riches and good things in life. Let us ask where the riches come from; they are the hard work of so many people. Riches and wealth have to be shared for the good of all. The best way to utilize wealth is to share it for constructive purposes. First, the riches and wealth must be shared considerably for the workers' welfare in producing wealth and resources. In the histor...

  26th February 2025 7th    Week Wednesday of Ordinary Time Year One Sir 4:11-19 Those who seek wisdom will have life, joy, glory and blessings. The Lord loves those who love wisdom. They will govern nations, and they will be secure and safe. Those who have faith in wisdom will have it, and it will remain with them. It will help them to live well and do right. If one does not follow, it will be ruined. Do we seek wisdom? Year Two James 4:13-17 Human beings make plans for business and life. They are sure of their plans and schemes. Yet, at times, humans are sure of their plans and programs; they make them arrogant and boastful, which leads to evil. Self-sufficiency leads one to evil against others and God. Dependence upon God and others is life and leads to communion and happiness. In most cases, humans know what to do but sometimes choose to do evil. Knowing what is right and choosing to do evil makes us against God and others, leading us to feel guilty an...

  25th February 2025 7th    Week Tuesday of Ordinary Time Year One Sir 2:1-11 God is Faithful! The Lord tests those who love them. The gold is tested in the furnace for good quality. In time of test and trial, be steady and firm. One needs to trust in the Lord and the process of purification and perfection. One needs to fear the Lord and live well. Those who fear the Lord and live life will be shown mercy. The Lord is merciful and faithful. He will not abandon his people. He saves us in times of affliction, Do you trust that God is faithful? Year Two Jas 4:1-10 Meditation Human beings are dichotomous because of their doublemindedness. They say one thing and do something else, think one thing and do the opposite, know what is right and do wrong, and long for peace and tranquillity but choose violence. There is constant war in human beings; one is not aware of this unceasing battle within the human person. This lack of knowledge leads to confusion and evil. ...

  24 th February 2025 7th    Week Monday of Ordinary Time Year One Sir 1:1-8 Meditation Wisdom teaches everything. Who has taught wisdom to God? The sea, sand, and water—what a wonder they are. The thought of eternity and life and life to come. Life is a mystery to be contemplated and known, and we never know completely. The only one who knows is sitting above; to him, we need to fear and entrust everything. The wisdom of God in making the universe and all that is in it is not easy to comprehend. How great is the Wisdom of God? Year Two Jas 3:13-18 Meditation Can any one of us say that we are wise? It is not a question of knowing who is wise or unwise among us but a question of asking to be wise and making a prudent choice to be wise. It is always good to ask good questions and question ourselves. Nobody likes to be questioned, but blessed and lucky are the people who ponder people's questions and work on their lives. Envy leads to all sorts of evils...

 22nd February 2025 6th    Week Saturday of Ordinary Time Year One 1 Pet 5:1-5 Meditation We accept and expect the authority to carry out their authority. God gives authority by human order or by specially entrusting a responsibility. Everyone in authority has a loving duty to oversee the good of their subjects, not for personal gain or to oppress and subjugate. Those who are younger must follow and obey those in authority for the love of life and the love of God. Let one be humble to obey and not be proud. Is it not the humble who are blessed than the proud? Gospel 16:13-19                        The confession of Peter about Jesus as “You are the Christ the Son of the living God” was a great revelation to Peter. Jesus is so happy about the revelation made known to Peter by Father that he entrusts the Church to his care. He promises the keys of the ...

  6th    Week Friday of Ordinary Time Year One Gen 11:1-9 Build Bridges! Humans wish to show their power and engineering skills to build a tower to reach the heavens. God, at the pride of humans, confuses their language as they cannot coordinate and progress with the edifice's construction. Humans were scattered and confused with their language. They dispersed on the face of the earth. Today, due to the means of communication, we are able to understand other people's language to a great extent. Humans are brought together, but human pride and selfishness divide them with the most sophisticated ways of war and avarice. Do we use our language to build bridges or barriers? Year Two James 2:14-24,26 One can speak good words to those in need. They are helpful, and they may help him get out of trouble. Good words alone are not enough. To wish someone to take care of and do well is not enough. One in one’s reach has to extend one’s hand to help those in need by wor...

  6th    Week Thursday of Ordinary Time Year One Gen 9:1-13 Take Care of the Creation! After the flood has ceased, God entrusts the creation again to the care for humans. He entrusts the birds, animals, and those living in the waters to care for and deal with them responsibly. He tells them to take care of human beings and not harm and kill each other. He makes a covenant with humanity that he will be their God, they will be his people, and they must live responsibly. He set a bow in the cloud as a sign of the covenant. Do we take care of the creation around us? Year Two James 2:1-9 We all want to live in an impartial world. We wish no one showed partiality to us. While we are partial to those whom we like or love. Partiality can be based on many levels. We openly show partiality in treating the rich and poor differently. The rich have one scale of treatment; the poor have another scale. It happens in every section of society in which we live. Let us keep in...

  6th    Week Wednesday of Ordinary Time Year One Gen 8:6-13, 20-22 Meditation Are you Steady? Noah opened the ark-built altar and offered the Lord clean animals and birds. After every blessing of God, one should build an altar and give thanks to God. One should approach the altar of God with thanksgiving and adoration. God will accept our thanksgiving and bless us from all harm. God remembered the nature of humans, that from their youth, humans were evil. God decides not to harm humans anymore. God allows the world to go on from generation to generation and for ages. God keeps his promises. Do we approach the altar of God to give thanks? Year Two James 1:19-27 In times of trial and struggle, one has to learn to have the calmness of the mind and mindfulness. Mindfulness and serenity result from fortitude, which is strength in mind, heart, and spirit. To be just, in fact, to oneself and others. To be prudent and use the wisdom given by God and oneself to ...

  6th    Week Tuesday of Ordinary Time Year One Gen 6:5-8; 7:1-5,10 Meditation Is God Sorry for You? God regretted having made man. God made human beings so great, but humans can be at their worst in character and behaviour. God was sorry for creating humans. God chose Noah and pairs of animals to be saved in the boat, which was built according to God's direction. God was sorry, but he had the idea of saving humans and creation by choosing the pairs of animals. God loves humans and his creation. He was sad for the behaviour of humans. Is God happy at our behaviour and attitude? Year Two Jas 1:12-18 God is holy and perfect. Temptations do not come from God; God does not tempt. God may allow the devil to tempt us, as in the case of Job. Job did not lose his trust in God. Job lost everything and, in the end, gained everything. Let us not pass the responsibility for our weakness and failure to God. God only strengthens our faith and love in him. Humans fal...

  6th    Week Monday of Ordinary Time Year One Gen 4:1-15, 25 Are you Cain or Abel? The offering of Abel was accepted by God and not that of Cain. God asked Cain Why are you angry? If you do well, will your offering not be accepted? God gave him hope. But he decided to do away with his brother Abel.   God asked, “Where is your brother Abel?” He said I do not know; “am I my brother’s keeper?” “Where is your brother Abel?” And the Lord said, “What have you done?” The questions of God are interesting, and God does ask us the same questions today for the times we are malicious and wish to outdo our innocent brothers. Are you Cain or Abel? Year Two James 1:1-11 Trials and Temptations Life offers humans many experiences. It offers many good experiences, which we seldom take note of, and instead, humans forget completely about the positive experiences of life. Human beings remember the bad and negative experiences in life. They think of them and pound over...

  5th Week Saturday of Ordinary Time Year One Gen 3:9-24 Meditation Where Am I? God visited the disobedient parents and asked them, "Where are you?" The question meant a lot to the person who was asked. Where do we live? It could mean the place where we stay, our situation in life, our spiritual condition, our achievements and failures, or the state of our person and life. The first parents were hiding for the sins they committed. What is our answer to the question Where are You? Year Two 1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34 Jeroboam got into an evil way of thinking about diverting people from going to the Jerusalem Temple. He built temples at Bethel and Dan for people, appointed priests, and offered sacrifices to calves that humans made. It was a sin on the part of Jeroboam. He deviated the people of God from God. One’s wrong thinking enters those in authority, which can cause immense harm to people and their faith. Instead of being faithful to God and leading people...

  5th Week Friday of Ordinary Time Year One Gen 3:1-8 Meditation Are you into Deception? The serpent is cunning and dangerous. It tempted the woman by saying, "If you eat the fruit from the tree of life, you will be like God, and you will know good and evil." The serpent does not say lies; it tells facts to be true, but it is a deception. Humans can never become Gods, and even if they know good and evil, they have to discern and choose good, which is hard to do without keeping the law of God. Are we not into deception in our daily lives by the world's attraction? Year Two 1 Kings 11:29-32 God speaks to us in signs and symbols. God's truths are universal, but the revelation to every person and every age is particular. Revelation is given as symbols and images. The kingdom of Israel is divided among the ten tribes like the cloak is divided into ten pieces. The division is hard to accept in life and in the world. But we see there is so much division in ...

  5th Week Thursday of Time Ordinary Year One Gen 2:18-25 Meditation Love Leads to Good! God made man and of man and woman. woman is fashioned from man. They are two but become one. They are made for each other. Men and women are made to help each other. Everything in the world is created for the good of man and woman. In a special manner, men and women are made to exchange physical and emotional support. The love between man and woman has to lead to the love of God and the love of others. The love between them had to be modelled on the love of God. Love leads to good! Do we know the love of God is pure and no deceit? Year Two 1 Kings 11:4-13 Human beings are destined to fall and rise. King Solomon's glory and grace failed to be faithful to God until the end. As Solomon grew old, he went after the gods of his wives. He built a temple for his wives' gods and offered incense to them. He broke his contact with God and lost his relationship with God. God was angry wit...

  5th Week: Wednesday Ordinary Time Year One Gen 2:4-9, 15-17 Meditation Keep the Laws! Created men and women and gave the garden all the possible fruits. He gave them the condition that they not eat the fruit of one tree. God has created us in freedom, but this freed needs responsibility. Freedom without proper use will cause destruction. It was needed as a condition of freedom. The humans liked the freedom but failed to follow the law and command of God. While we enjoy freedom, we fail to keep the law of God. Do we keep the law of the God? Year Two 1 King 10:1-10 The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon King Solomon's fame reached its peak with the visit of the queen of Sheba. What is said and spoken of King Solomon is confirmed by Queen Sheba about his buildings, wealth, rule, culture, and wisdom. She particularly says King Solomon's relationship with his God is great and wonderful. She was happy about the good connection and contact with his God. She praised hi...

  5 th Week Tuesday of Ordinary Time Year One Gen 1:20-2:4 Meditation Use Freedom Well! God made the universe and created man and woman to live in the world. He created the special. He made them in his image. He did not make them like him. He made them in his image, which would mean he made them almost like him but human. He did not make them control and subjugate them, but he gave them freedom. Freedom is the greatest gift that God has given us. The most needed and wanted is freedom. Let us enjoy the freedom of God as God himself is free. Do we use our freedom well? Year Two 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication King Solomon prays to God for blessings. God has come to dwell on the earth. Solomon asks God to keep the convent of love with the people of God. It is the true prayer of a king who has received innumerable blessings from God’s hand and prays on his behalf and as people to keep the convent of love. God loves us first. Humans learn love ...

  5 th Week Monday of Ordinary Time Year One Gen 1:11-19 Meditation See Good! God created the universe and saw that it was good. God himself created the world and found it good. He was happy with his creation. God was happy about his mission of making the world. God’s decision was good. God was happy. Not only was God happy, but the universe was happy. The universe is made for good and happiness. There is goodness in the world, but evil in the mind will enter and have its end. Good will continue forever. Do we see good around us.? Two Year 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13 The Ark Brought to the Temple The ark was placed in the temple of Jerusalem. The temple was completed, and the ark was placed in the temple with all the deviation and reverence. The Lord has come to live in the temple. The ark is the treasure of the people of Israel. In the ark there were the two stone tablets with the ten commandments of God. God speaks to us through law. We do not know the ways of the Lo...

  4th Week: Saturday of Ordinary Time Year One Heb 13:15-17, 20-21 Meditation Form Healthy Consciences! One should continue to do good. Do not be weary of doing good. Share those things that are with you. Pray that we have a clear conscience. Blessed are those who have clear consciences. Some people have disturbed consciences due to various reasons. Let one accept the situation; the Lord is the master of our conscience. Take care, trust in God, and move forward in life. One may use the sacrament of confession and learn patiently and gently to form a healthy conscience. Can we form healthy consciences? Year Two 1 Kings 3:4-13 Meditation David’s Son Solomon was made king. God asked him what he wanted from him. King Solomon asked God for the gift of a discerning heart to rule his people. God gave him the wisdom to rule God’s people. He was known as the wisest of all kings. Since he asked for wisdom, God was pleased with King Solomon and gave him wealth and honour. ...

  4th Week Friday of Ordinary Time Year One Heb 13:1-8 Meditation Let God's mercy lead us. The values of life, the love of God, and the love of others are valued at all ages. Love those who are strangers and care for them. Today, due to migration, we find many strangers be kind and respect them.   It is always a great value to keep the marriage bed undefiled. Being faithful and keeping the marriage vows is a value expected of every married person. Faithfulness to the spouse is faithful to oneself and God. Give due honour to your leaders of faith and to every kind of leader. Do we remember Christ is unchanging? Year Two Eccle 47:2-11 The beginnings of David's life was glorious. He played with dangerous animals but was unharmed. He fought with enemies, and he was victorious. He played music and danced. He loved God, and God listened to him. The Lord made him king. The favour the Lord was with him. God made a covenant with him. We know the other side of David...

  4th Week Thursday of Ordinary Time Year One Heb 12:18-19, 21-24 Jesus has come to make the New Covenant. A covenant is an unbreakable commitment. One of human beings' parts could be unfaithfulness. God is faithful to human beings to take them to the purpose he made them. God leads his people on a journey of life to a good end. It is God who gives life, and it is he who makes it possible to reach the perfect state. God gave freedom to humans, and he let them grow in it to perfection. Are we aware God’s perfection is that humans use their freedom well? Year Two 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12 David's time had come to join his father. He made his son Solomon king and told him to be like man, obey the Lord, and care for the people entrusted to him. David had learned the way of the Lord the hard way, and he did not want his son Solomon to make the mistakes he had made, so he instructed him. No one is permanent in this world. Everyone has to leave this world to join their ance...

  4th Week Wednesday of Ordinary Time Year One Heb 12:4-7, 11-15 Good to Have a Tough Dad! The father disciplines the child, and the disciplined child will do well. God is like a father who disciplines his children. Those who are disciplined will do well in life. Sometimes, in some cases, tough fathers are needed to deal with indiscipline children. It is not harmful but should be corrected and put on the right track. Blessed are those who find tough dads who will make their children's lives easy in the coming time. No one who has gone in a tough way will feel sorry. Holiness is needed to meet the Lord. The bitterness will cause defilement, but discipline for the good life will bring blessings in life. Do you believe in the power of discipline? Year Two   2 Sam 24:2, 9-17 There was great famine and disaster for the people of Israel. David prays that the disaster is upon him and his family and not on the people. David accepts his sin and asks God to harm him and no...

  4th Week Tuesday of Ordinary Time Year One Heb 12:1-4 Meditation Do we Resist Sin? Christians have run with faith in the struggle of life.   The weight of sin will be on us, but have faith in Jesus and endure it. Jesus accepted death as a shameful death for the sake of sinners, and now he is seated at the right hand of God. Jesus withstood with endurance against his persecutor and sinners.   He has not lost hope in God and the struggle of life for the salvation of humanity.   We must struggle against sin, even to the point of shedding blood.   Do we struggle to resist sin? Year Two 2 Sam 18:9-10, 14, 24-25, 30-19:3 Absalom fell into the hands of his father, David, and killed Joab. Sometimes, the lives of some leaders, great people and mighty people end interestingly. Absalom had long hair, and the hair got caught in the thick bushes, and he fell into the hands of the enemy and was killed. The end of every simple or mighty person comes unexpec...

  3 rd February 2024 4th Week: Ordinary Time Monday Heb 11:32-40 Mediations Let us Go on God's Way! Great men and women in the history of God’s plan suffered. Suffering for the cause of God and doing great things for the Lord is no avail. It may not make one perfect in life. Doing great things for God without God’s hand and his way is useless. One has to suffer rightly for the cause of God, and it is God who gives us perfection through his grace. It is not that we have gained perfection through our efforts. Do we go on God’s way or our own way? 2 Sam 15:13-14, 3;16:5-13a David Flees Meditation David’s son Absolom turns against him. Absalom wants to kill David. David is cursed for his evil ways. He has to flee from people. As he passes by, he experiences rejection from the people. It happens that one has to go through the face of rejection from people in life for the evil one has done. It is part of life. At one time or another, humans become contemptuous of peo...