BREAD FOR YOUTH

  4th Week of Lent Monday Isa 65:17-21 Meditation Hope for Good! The Lord promises through Isaiah the New World. The old world in our past, our pain, our sorrow, our failure, our illness, our bad memories and so on. In the new world, all these will be absent, and even the bad memories will disappear. This is the kind of world that everyone envisages for themselves. Everyone wants to be away from their problems and difficulties, looking for peace and tranquillity. Humans strongly hope for a world where there will be joy, peace and happiness. The world that humans look forward to is a world of stability and prosperity. There will be stable rules and stable dwellings, and the elderly will live up to a hundred. They will have plenty to eat and drink. The Lord will be there to help and support. There will be no weeping and wailing. All this will be in Jerusalem, the eternal city of God. The City of Jerusalem is a model city for all cities. A city of God’s presence, his prom...

  3rd Week of Lent Saturday Hos 5:15-6:6 Meditation suffering in Life is for Good! God yet times tore us apart for our good. God allows certain misfortunes to befall us. Great lessons are learned only through the hard way. Many times, we say experience is the best teacher. Life offers hardships which are beyond human limits. Human beings have the capacity to live through hard times and come out victoriously. God wants obedience, not sacrifice. God drives us for good. Nature is beautiful, and the time and seasons constantly change. They are temporary; likewise, God’s anger does not last. God desires mercy, not sacrifice. God is merciful and loving. Humans need to acknowledge God and his goodness. God's care is great. We need to give God due praise, glory, and honour. Do you know that suffering and pain in life come for a cause? Gospel:Lk 18:9-15 The Story of Jesus Pharisee and the Tax Collector prayer is the best model of prayer for every one of us. A Pharisee is known...

  3rd Week of Lent Friday Hos 14:1-9 Repentance  Brings Blessing Meditation God gives us a second chance. Some people experience God’s goodness; God gives the ample chance to amend their ways. God grants a plethora of chances for humans to come back to him. If God takes human sin, disobedience and rebellion into consideration, no one will survive. God is generous and magnanimous in giving opportunities for humans to change and be good. At the opportunities given by God for humans, humans have responsibilities to change and do well in life. One thing is true, though: God gives humans innumerable chances to change their ways for good; only the righteous will walk in the way of the Lord. It is the responsibility of every one to make use of the chances given by God to amend one’s ways and live a life pleasing to him. Do we make serious efforts to amend our lives? Gospel: Mk 12:28-34 Meditation The way to love the other is to love as we love ourselves. Let there n...

  3rd Week of Lent Thursday Jer 7:23-28 Meditation We are God’s possession!, of Israel were said to be stiff-necked people. They were hard people. They were nomads. They were moving from place to place with their flocks. They have no one place to stay. They were exposed to sun, rain, cold and wind. They were hard people. God has chosen them and he made them his own possession. God promised the people of Israel you will be my people, and I will be your God, but the people of Israel did not heed him. The People of Israel were hard-hearted. They disobeyed God, even though God loved them. They were said to be more disobedient than their forefathers. It is true that God found them hard. It is true of every group of people that they are hard-hearted with their ideas, views, and beliefs. It is not only true of many groups of people; it is the story of each one of us. Humans can be very stiff in their thoughts and ideas, even refusing truth and goodness. Do we accept that we are Go...

  3rd Week of Lent Wednesday Deut 4:1,5-9 God is the Ordinary! Meditation The Lord is inviting the people of Israel to keep the laws of God. The laws of the Lord have been taught to God's people over the years, but they have been taught the hard way. The life lessons for life and spiritual life are taught to the people through the history of the people of God. God took time to make them understand his love for them. He gave them laws and commands to follow. The Lord reminds the people of God to remember the wonders of God. It is easy for us to forget the works of God and the happenings of life. The difficult times pass, and good times pass; it is normal for people to forget both and to live as if there was no God’s hand. To our poor memories, we need either one problem or a miracle to remind us about the goodness of God and the need to obey the laws and commandments of God, which are given to us by God with love for light to our path in the world. Do we remember the goo...

  3rd Week of Lent Tuesday Dan 3:25, 34-43 Meditation We have Only Good News! 25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Mediation Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were known in Hebrew as Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah respectively. They were thrown in the burning furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar for not worshipping the golden calf. In the reading today, the major part is the prayer of Azariah, one of the three in the furnace, not being consumed in such a feared fire. It is unbelievable that these three men survive the fire and the king accepts the miracle and believes in the God of these three young men. The prayer of Azariah is praising the name of the Lord for his goodness, justice and faithfulness. The three submit themselves to God’s care and for the glory of God’s name. The best praise and honour that humans can give to God is to give him glory. Probably, humans do not know other than ...

  3rd Week of Lent Monday 2 Kings 5:1-5 Meditation Do we listen to the Poor! A Slave girl tells the master Naaman to go to Elish to be cured of his leprosy. We know reluctantly, Naaman goes to Elish with gifts from the king to the prophet Elish. Prophet Elish tells him to wash himself in the river Jordan. His flesh becomes clean. He hesitates to listen to the suggestion of a slave girl to go to the land of Israel and dip himself in the river. In Naaman, we see the desire to follow Someone to be cured, though they look simply below his status. He learns to trust in people and God. He gets cured of his leprosy. God works wonders in our lives through simple people and ordinary life events. Do we listen to the simple and poor people's wisdom? Gospel: Lk 4:24-30 Meditation Jesus’ preaching was thought-provoking and pointed to the lack of faith. At Jesus' words, Jews were put down, and they wanted to throw him down from the cliff. It is a gift of enlightened persons wh...

  2nd Week of Lent Saturday Mic 7:14-15,18-20 Meditation To Be Good in the Eyes of God! God does not remain angry. He pardons humans. He forgives humans. He delights in showing mercy. He casts human sins in the depth of the sea. God gives good days to his people. God keeps his promises he has made to his people and to our ancestors. God is faithful and just. God does not remain angry. He is love, mercy and compassionate. He cannot be angry with humanity.   It is a lesson to learn from God that we should not remain in anger. Forgive people and forgive them. Forgiveness is hard, but it has to be an attitude and a way of life. We get hurt, and we hurt others on a daily basis. The way is not to remain unforgiving but to learn to forgive and ask God’s help to forgive. Forgiveness demands a change of heart in every aspect of human life. Learn to be humble and learn from God to forgive, and then our own sins will be forgiven, and we will be blessed with peace. Do we know ...

  2nd Week of Lent Friday Gen 37:3-4,12-13,17-28 Meditation Joseph of old was sold to Ishmaelites. It was a good option that was suggested by his brother Judah. By selling Joseph, they have done less harm, and they got twenty shekels of silver. They have chosen lesser evil. Today, many desire to choose the lesser evil. Any way the harm we do to others is harmful. The goodwill bears good results in the proper time. God can bring good out of evil. Some spiritual writers say, ‘o my happy fault.’ Needless to say, in the present world, each one is selling his/her brother/sister. Each one of us is sold by our brothers/sisters. The reason is we are too much for each other. We are busy selling each other for a small benefit. The sale is on and goes on. We know Jesus was sold by Judas Iscariot.   You and I are on sale by our own dear and near ones for fringe benefits. We are unaware that an elder brother is keeping him/her on sale. Instead of putting on sale each other, let us ...

  2nd Week of Lent Thursday Jer 17:5-10 Meditation Depend Upon God! It is better to trust God than human beings. The word of God says cursed be the one who trusts and depends on humans. Human beings are known for betrayal and unfaithfulness. It is not a pessimistic view of humans; but there is grain of truth in it.   Depending upon humans instead of God is a blow to the person. As we live in the world, we regard persons and sometimes totally rely on them instead of depending upon God. In other words we give the place of God to human beings. We are led and guided by God and not by any human being. We need to trust in God and his goodness. The Lord knows each one and he gives the reward what each one deserves. One should trust in God. On whom do I depend? Gospel: Lk 16:19-31 Meditation Riches and enjoyment of good things in life do not guarantee eternal life. Eternal life is given to the humble and those who had struggles in life and live faithful to God. If...

  2nd Week of Lent Wednesday Jer 18:18-20 Meditation Evil is intended for God’s messagers. Good people are a block for the evil and to evil ways of people. The only way for those who continue in evil is to do away with good people. On getting rid of God’s people,  then only the evil-doers can live in sin. If not the messengers of God are a block and obstruction to their evil ways. It is nothing new what has happened to the prophet Jeremiah. They dug a pit for him to destroy him. On the contrary prophet Jeremiah prayed and pleaded with the Lord from his wrath on the people. The prophets and messengers of God wish for the good of the sinners and evil ones. The prophets are full of God’s spirit, and they can only be models of God’s love for humanity. It is because of their goodness that evil is overcome, and sinners return to God at the end of their evil ways. Why do we harm God's massagers? Gospel: Mt 20:17-28 Meditation Read today's Word of God. P...

  2nd Week of Lent Tuesday Isa 1:10, 16-20 Meditation God loves You to Have a Pure Heart! It is good to know that the Lord is not pleased with us. Human beings run into different kinds of problems with others and against God. They do harm to themselves, and others and thus dishonour to God. Humans do not fall into sin in one instance. It is a gradual fall into a sinful life. God is not happy with the sinful life of the people. Human beings are gradually drawn to evil and evil ways. They wish to perpetuate evil and sinful practices. God is holy and perfect. He wishes the same for humanity. God gives humans ample chances to change. He eagerly waits for them to change their ways, change their mind and change their heart for the better. No sin of human beings is too much for God to forgive. Humans have to know that they are in sin, and they should desire to transform themselves and be ready to take the appropriate care to overcome sin and live in purity of heart. God ...

  2nd Week of Lent Monday Dan 9:4-10 Meditation Daniel Prays to God for his people. He also confesses the sins of the people of Israel. The confession of Daniel is public and open. He confesses the sins of people like rebellion, unfaithfulness and disobedience. Open confession is good for the people for they come to know their sins. Let people know they are in sin. The sins against God and others are not only their personal sins but the sins of humanity. They are not only about one or two individuals but of every individual. Some are of the opinion that they are sinless or it is alright to be in sin, still others are of the opinion sin does not exist. All these attitudes of sin are dangerous.   These attitudes do much harm to the collective consciousness and community. In such cases, the good of the individuals and personal good should make a public confession.   A prophetic confession is healing to the sinners who believe in sinlessness. Though private confe...

  2nd Week of Lent Monday Dan 9:4-10 Meditation Is our community is In Sin? Daniel Prays to God for his people. He also confesses the sins of the people of Israel. The confession of Daniel is public and open. He confesses the sins of people like rebellion, unfaithfulness and disobedience. Open confession is good for the people for they come to know their sins. Let people know they are in sin. The sins against God and others are not only their personal sins but the sins of humanity. They are not only about one or two individuals but of every individual. Some are of the opinion that they are sinless or it is alright to be in sin, still others are of the opinion sin does not exist. All these attitudes of sin are dangerous.   These attitudes do much harm to the collective consciousness and community. In such cases, the good of the individuals and personal good should make a public confession.   A prophetic confession is healing to the sinners who believe in sinle...

  1st Week of Lent Saturday Deut 26:16-19 Follow the Lord’s Commands Meditation God gives us laws to follow. Those who follow the law will be happy. Those who follow God's law will have eternal life. The law of God is God’s love rule. God is love, and the manner of love of God has a way, procedure and style. Those who follow the love of the Lord will live by the law of God and the law of the people. The experience of God’s goodness and his love is deep within those who live by the law of God. The law of God will teach many things. The law of God is only revealed in its fullness to those who love God. Those who keep the law are faithful to God and faithful in their human relationship with others. One does not need special training in the law to know the law of the Lord. It is a gift that is given by God to all those who have goodwill to love the Lord and to live well. Do we love the law of the Lord? Gospel: Mt 5:43-48 Meditation "You have heard that it was sai...

  1st Week of Lent Friday Ezek 18:21-28 Meditation Do we Like to Give up Sin! The Lord is the God of mercy and provider of ample chances to change for the good. If a just man falls into sin and lives in sin, he will have eternal death. If a sinner makes peace with God and returns to God, he will live through his many sins. God forgives the sinner of all his sins and does not remember them. He is given a chance to live a holy life. God wants everyone to come back to him. God eagerly waits for us to return to him and give up our evil ways. God is like a shepherd who cares for the strayed sheep. God is a prodigal father who longs for the return of his lost sons. The father's joy has no bounds when the lost sons come to his abode to be with him. God is merciful, and his mercy is given to all those who seek him with a sincere heart. Do we have the heart and desire to give up sin? Gospel: Mt 5:20-26 Meditation   Come to terms quickly with your accuser ...

  1st Week of Lent Thursday Esther 4:17 Meditation Do we Seek God! God chooses Queen Esther to save the people of the Jews. She does use her intelligence and influence to save the Jews. God choose persons to save his people. Esther prays to God for her courage and strength to protect her. She is proud of being raised in a Jewish family.   The prayer of Esther is for help, family and the Jewish community.   She prays for courage to face the enemy. The enemies in life are true, and we need God’s grace to face them. Finally, she submits to the Lord’s care and protection.   We need to have love for the church and the people of God. Today, there are many forces that are against the family, community and church, so each one should be bold, like Easter, to protect the community of faith. It is the responsibility of everyone to see that the faith that is brought to us is communicated and passed on to the next generations by way of protecti...

  1st Week of Lent Wednesday Jon 3:1-10 Jonah Goes to Nineveh Meditation Jonah after his own conversion went to the city of Nineveh to preach the conversion for the people. The king and people paid heed to Jonah and all of them including animals took up the fast. Taking up the common fast as a nation and universe is something noteworthy. It is necessary every time to declare a common fast and to practice it and to do reparation for the sins of humanity. God was very much pleased with the fast that was followed by the nation as a whole and his anger has come down. He did not punish the people of Nineveh but blessed them. The way to come back to God is the way of a change of heart and preparation and making things right with God and with one another. God loves those who want to make peace with others and with himself. The only way that is open for our salvation is to set things right with God and others. Lent is the time to set the right things for a good spi...

  1st Week of Lent Tuesday Isa 55:10-11 Meditation The word of God has Power! In the prayer taught by Jesus, we pray that they will be done on earth as it is in heaven. God’s will is fulfilled in its full measure in heaven. All the saints and holy men/women fulfil the will of God or all those who are in heaven are those who accomplished the will of God. God’s will is perfect; when the will of God is lived, God is pleased as one does the will of God and gives glory to God. The word of God for us is God himself, too. The word of God is powerful. The word of God gives us life and meaning to humans. God sends his word to us to nourish us. The Word of God is like rain and snow that comes down from heaven. The rain and snow do not go to waste; they do much good to the earth and humanity. In the same way, the Word of God that comes down from heaven does not go without producing the fruits. It produces many fruits in the hearts of the people. The word of God makes one live and have...

  1s Week of Lent Monday Lev 19:1-2, 11-18 Various Laws Meditation Every human being knows what is right and what is wrong. The law of God is written on each one’s heart. For a long time, people of God were without the law. Before God gave law, there was a natural law of life. As one grows and lives his/her life in the world, one needs to be taught and told what is not lawful and good. Doing whatever one feels good for him is not the law to be practised. The law is good for one, but it should be good for another, too. Being just and doing things for justice in all aspects of life is the law to be followed. There are so many laws to be put into practice, but God gives few for us to be practised. Do not deceive those who are next to you. Do not rob the others. Do not withhold the wages one disserves. Do not judge others unfairly. Do not harm others. Rebuke the other justly. If not, you, too, share the guilt with the others. Do not hate the other in your heart. Love the othe...

  Saturday after Ash Wednesday Isa 58:9-14 Meditation Praise God! The Lord will make use of you for his mission. He will keep you safe and sound from all harm; over and above that, he will make you a witness for him. Your life will be an honour to him. He will manifest his glory in your life. He will make you great in his sight. God makes the human being the greatness of him. At the works and wonders of God, human beings give glory to him. It is proper and correct that human beings honour and glorify God. Humans are brought forth to give glory to God in freedom and love. God is the God of freedom and love. In true love, there is no manipulation but total giving for the good and glory of God. Do you know humans find much joy in praising God? Gospel: Lk 5:27-32 Meditation The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"   Jesus answered, "Those who are well do not need a physici...

  Friday after Ash Wednesday Isa 58:1-9 True Fasting! Meditation Many take up fasting in this season of Lent. Some do severe fasts and carry out many responsibilities. One should be careful in observing the fast and the fruit that one bears as a result of the fast. Fasting is not for show or to please God and others. Fasting should enable one to correct oneself and help one live well. There is a danger for those who fast. They can become victims of impatience and lose virtue instead of gaining it. Do not fast for vainglory. Fast as to amend life for the better and live well. Living right and being good to others is the purpose of fasting. If one is not careful during the fast, one can do injustice to others. A Good act of fasting makes life easy and suitable for oneself and others. In making life good for others and oneself, one learns and grows in love of God. If one harms oneself and harms others during a fast; one will not grow closer to God or closer to othe...

Thursday after Ash Wednesday  Deut 30:15-20 Meditation Whom do we Obey? God offers to us life, prosperity, death and destruction. It is our choice to choose what we wish. Life may be all of these, but we can choose what we wish to be with the help of God. Evil will befall upon us if we disobey God and choose other gods. Other gods would mean to look for gods in the worldly things and material things. To make what is temporal and material an idol and worship and give priority to it and disobey God and his ways. Choosing God and obeying his ways is to invite life in fullness. Right living comes from within every person. At the right living one loves God and follows his ways. Such people find a lot of joy and happiness. No sorrow and no block could ever destroy them and take away the peace and joy from their life. If God is with us we would have everything in life. To be right with God is to obey him and listen to him. Do we need to obey God or the material world? Gospel: Lk 9:22-25 M...

  Ash Wednesday Joel 2:12-18 Rend Your Heart Meditation Ash Wednesday is the day on which we begin the Lenten season. We know the Lenten season is the time of purification of the sins of humans. We cleanse our bodies, our clothes, our homes, our workplaces. A cleansed place is liked and loved by all. In the like manner our heart, mind and body have to be purified in this season. Our bodily fast purifies the body from unwanted elements and makes one healthy. The bodily fast transforms the heart from impurities, inordinate desires, and unwanted emotions.   The cleansing of the body and heart strengthens the mind and empowers the will to follow the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and live an upright life. Thus, working out our salvation with fear of God instils God’s immense love for us. We contemplate God’s mercy and unconditional forgiveness through his passion and death on Mount Calvary. Do you know that one day you turn to dust? Gospel: Mt 6:1-6,16-18 ...

  8th    Week Tuesday of Ordinary Time Year One Sir 35:1-12 Meditation Keep the laws of God. Give to the Lord generously. God loves the cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7). All we possess is God's gift. We thank God for the gifts we receive from God’s hand, but we need to offer the Lord the first fruits of works and returns—gratitude not only in words but also shown in deeds. The good offering is most acceptable to the Lord. The offerings that are given are for the sake of the poor and needy. Jesus promised the poor they would always be with us (Mk 14:7). Do we give generously? Year Two 1 Peter 1:10-16 In general, humans accept that they are weak and fall into sin. They desire to be good, perfect, and holy so that they can be blessed. It is possible to live a holy life. God helps us to be sacred and pure. God invites us to be united with him. It is God’s invitation to all humans without any expectation to be holy. He tells us to be blessed for he is holy. God cre...

  8th    Week Monday of Ordinary Time Year One Sir 17:24-29 Meditation Look for Message in the Word of God! Yet to those who repent, he grants a return and encourages those who are losing hope. (Sir 17:24) An erring child’s parents patiently wait for their child to return to the right path. It is human to go astray. As humans, we are all prodigal sons and daughters. Earthly parents are concerned for the family's black sheep; rather than correcting them forthrightly, they permit them to correct themselves and do well. God the Father will be more patient with those who err and become slaves to various weaknesses. The invitation to repentance is the constant call God has given us through prophets and in the last days through Jesus. We may come up with an impossible attitude for me to overcome. The Lord is merciful, and with the help of God, nothing is impossible to overcome. The dead cannot give praise to God. It is the living that praise God. It is the living th...