BREAD FOR YOUTH

  17th week Friday in Ordinary Time Year One Lev 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34-37 Meditation Let us Seek Guidance from Others! Life is a celebration. We celebrate to thank God. When we celebrate life, we thank God. We are happy when we glorify God and bless him. There are many occasions to thank God and express our gratitude to God and to one another. Let us remember celebration is not done alone; it is always in a community. God wants us to be happy along with others. Our journey is not alone but with the community of people. When we look for celebration privately it is not a celebration but self-indulgence. Let us celebrate life together in the name of God. One way is to thank God is to give to God the first fruits of our works. whatever it may be let us be grateful to God whatever we have received from him. Let us give the priest the first fruits of fields. It is way of thanking God officially through the mediator the priest of God. Some places the first fruits are share...

  17th week Thursday in Ordinary Time Year One Ex 40:16-21, 34-38 Do we Clarify Matters with Others! Meditation Moses made a covenant with God and made an ark for him. They were carrying the ark with them in the desert. The cloud would rest on the ark during the day and night as fire. When the cloud moved, they used to move or set out on a journey towards the promised land. He led them by pillar of cloud and fire in the desert.   God is a good guide. He led people of all ages. God has made a covenant with people. He made them, and he loves them.  He wants the well-being of humanity and every person. There is guidance from God as a community and individual. We need to accept the guidance of God. God has given us so much freedom if we are unwilling to be guided by God; he lets us be free. God is the God of freedom. We need to be led by God. God will not speak to us face to face. We need to be led by those who are near and dear to us. Let us pray to the spirit t...

  17th week Wednesday in Ordinary Time Year one Ex 34:29-35 God was speaking to Moses. He would speak to God face to face. Moses' face was shining, so he would cover his face with a veil before people, but before God, he would go without a veil. Moses was blessed to face God face to face. He was conversing with God for the sake of people. God chooses some to have a vision of God. God reveals his plans to them. They are able to see God and have visions. The people would not be able to understand those who have visions and God’s revelation. The ways of the people are different from the ways of God. The world and people look at God’s ways for their self-gain and advantage, but good looks for the good of everyone, especially those who are disadvantaged and victims of injustice. Are we able to face the persons of God's experience? Year Two Jer 15:10, 16-21 Meditation The Lord Assures His Protection Human life involves pain. Yet, in times like those of the prophet ...

  17th Week: Ordinary Time Tuesday Year One Ex 33:7-11, 34:5-9, 28 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped. He said, “If now I have found favour in your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”( Ex 34:8-9). God spoke to Moses face-to-face. God was angry, but he promised to forgive and bless the people for their guilt. Moses pleads for the people before God. Moses brings about a very interesting attitude of the people of Israel and the human attitude, i.e. he calls them stiff-necked people. Human ways are wrong, one-sided, hard-hearted and stubborn in going away from God time and again. This attitude is seen vividly today in society, and to an extent, it is seen in our own personal lives. Moses pleads with God to pardon our iniquity and our sin and take us as his inheritance. God makes his heir and his sons; as we are his inheritance, w...

  17th Week: Ordinary Time Monday Year One Ex 32:15-24, 30-34 St Alphonsa (Feast) God Himself inscribed the Ten Commandments on the two tablets. When Moses came down with the Decalogue, the people made a calf and began to dance. Moses was angry and destroyed the calf. But people demanded that a god be made to be worshipped. Moses allows them to throw the gold into the fire, and they make another golden calf to worship. Moses gravies that God would be angry with those who worship the golden calf and punishes them. God takes the responsibility to punish those who worship anything other than him. As in those days, people made gods and worshipped them. In the present world, wealth, power, name and fame are gods to be worshipped. We spend more time getting them and enjoying them. we do not give priority to God and his values. Our values and life are determined by these material and perishable things. We are all scummed to these world ways, and we create our own gods. For some,...

  16th week Saturday in Ordinary Time Ex 24: 3-8 Meditation Sts. Anne and Joachim. Moses built the altar to offer burnt offerings.  He cut the oxen, some blood he poured on the altar, and some he sprinkled over people.  He read the Word of God and reminded the people to be obedient to him.  When the blood was sprinkled on the people, they recalled the covenant of blood that the Lord had made with them.  Reading the Word of God, obedience and acceptance of God’s way are the path to holy life. A holy life is fruitful, despite many challenges. Do we obey God and his commands? Mt 13:24-30     “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.   Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time, I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”   (Mt 13:29-30) The master of th...

  16th week Friday in Ordinary Time 2 Cor 4:7-15 Meditation We are Precious to the Lord! Human beings are treasures in the clay jars. We know well that the body is matter, and it gets destroyed at death. In the human body, there is treasure. The treasure is God’s love and soul, which is everlasting. Through the death of Jesus, the treasure is preserved from corruption. Human beings, because of their sin, are to be destroyed like clay jars. But the treasure of the human person as a whole is given precious value by the Lord through his passion, death and resurrection. If we die with Christ, we will live with him. Everyone who believes in Jesus and participates in his life has eternal life. Eternal life is a gift that is given by Jesus to the human bodies, which are just like earthen jars. The value that Jesus treasures in us is like a treasure in the earthen pots. Let us realize that we are precious and wonderful in the Lord's sight. God loves us immensely. Let us not forge...

  16th week Thursday in Ordinary Time Year One Ex 19:1-2, 9-11,16-20 Account the Blessings of God! God speaks to Moses and Aaron at Mount Sinai. A covenant was made between the people and God. The people had given word that all that the Lord commanded would be done by them. Doing what God wants from us is obeying God and finding meaning in life. The rebellion in us is the work of the evil one. Let us be aware of such a tendency of revolt against God. The people were consecrated to God. They were told to be faithful to God and holy. If they are not careful, they would fall away from God and holiness. God wants us to be close to him and be holy; for God called us to share in his holiness.   We may think it is impossible to be holy and be set apart for God. What is envisaged by God for us is that we humans be holy and happy. God time and again reminds us about his invitation for us to be holy and realize the wonder of human life. Are we willing to consecrate ourselves...

  16th week Wednesday in Ordinary Time Year One Ex 16:1-5, 9-15 I am with You! In many public places, complaint boxes are kept for people to express their observations, suggestions and recommendations. They are considered if they are worthwhile. The people of Israel complained to Moses and God that they had no food or meat.   The complaint of the people was heard by God. God provides them quails to have meat in the evening and bread from heaven as fine as frost. The people collected and ate to their heart’s content. Good food is appreciated by everyone. Daily, we thank God for food. We are grateful to people who supply food to us. Food gives life. Humans want life and life to the full. The mana which was given in the desert is the foretaste of eternal food of body and blood of Jesus. Do we long for Eternal Food? Year Two Jer 1:1, 4-10 I am with You! The Lord calls Jeremiah. Jeremiah was a young man. He touches his mouth and puts his word in his mouth. The cal...

  16th Week: Ordinary Time, Tuesday Songs 3:1-4 Meditation Human Heart Longs for God! Love is the most beautiful expression of human being to God. We are created to love God and to experience his love to the full. His love is sufficient for entire life to be meaningful on earth and in the world to come. How do humans experience this love tangibly in one's life? It is the like the love that is planted in the hearts of humans for his/her beloved. The word of God toady expresses the longing of the humans for his/her soul love. The intensity of the love of the beloved is well expressed as “Scarcely had I passed them, when I found him whom my soul loves” (Songs 3:4). Let that love be of each human for his creator and God who is the cause and end of every human person. Humans who experience love of persons does well in life and spiritually. Genuine love is medicine. Do we understand love for God in terms of love that one has for his/her beloved? Gospel Jn 20:1-2, 11-18 The ...

  16th Week: Ordinary Time, Monday Year One Ex 14:15-18 Meditation God is God of Impossible! The Israel were chased by Pharaoh. They were afraid that they would die in wilderness. They thought it would have been better to be in the service of the Egyptians. The Israel cry to God and question him. Moses told the people to move forward. They moved forward towards redsea. As they reached red sea, Moses stretched out his hand with his staff on the sea and it parted into two as for Israel to walk on the dry land. It was a wonder and moment of thanking God for the army of Pharaoh was marching on to them. The Lord works wonders in the right moment in the history of the people of Israel. Crossing a sea is impossible with all their belongings and Lord lets the pass through the red sea a wonder the people of Israel could never forget.   The impossible events are remembered for ages and by generations. The works of the Lord are to be wondered. Do we believe that our God is Go...

  15th week Saturday in Ordinary Time Year One Ex 12:37-42 Meditation This passage is a powerful reminder that God's promises are fulfilled, even when they take time. The 430 years symbolize a long period of waiting, suffering, and endurance. Yet, God did not forget His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:13-14). Reflection on this invites us to trust God's timing in our own lives. "God is not slow in keeping His promises, but patient" (2 Peter 3:9). The precision in verse 41, “at the end of 430 years, to the very day…” shows that God acts with intentional timing, not randomness. It underscores that He is in control of history, and we are part of a larger, divine story. Do I remember God's past faithfulness in my life, especially in moments of waiting? Year Two Mic 2:1-5 Meditation Dream and Plan! Plan and dream that make things happen. It is good to ask ourselves what plans and dreams we have. Some plan and dream about good things on their bed...

  15th week Friday in Ordinary Time Year One Ex 11:10 -12:14 Meditation God Gives a Second Chance! Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land. This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.( Ex 11,14) Pharaoh heart was hardened; he would not allow the Israel to go out of Egypt in spite of many Wonders that Moses and Aaron worked in the name of God. The Lord takes the final chance over the king Pharaoh and the land of Egypt to let the people of Israel free. He tells them to celebrate Passover. As the Lord commanded the people of Israel celebrate the feast of Passover. The Lord passes over the houses that celebrated the Passover and protects them. “For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstbo...

  15th week Thursday in Ordinary Time Year One Ex 3:13-20 Meditation Few days back I was told by a woman that even now some wives do not call their husbands by name. It is because of reverence and respect. In the case of God, people of Israel felt they were not worthy to name and call God with a name. God says to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” The name of God is revealed to humanity. It means God is presence, God is living and God is present. In the gospel of St John, we read that God will be worshiped in truth and spirit (Jn 4:24). God is one who would be revealed to mankind in the course of history of humankind and in personal history of life. Do we believe in the presence of God with us? Year Two Isa 26:7-9, 12, 16-19 Meditation The Human Heart Yearns for God! The Lord is righteous. His ways are just and right. One has to learn to walk in the way of the Lord. The one who knows about the goodness and greatness of God falls in line with God and his ways. The deeds of ...

  15th week Wednesday in Ordinary Time Year One Ex 3:1-6, 9-12 Meditation The Lord is Almighty! God speaks to Moses in the burning bush. God says ‘I am God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ He was afraid to see God. God puts forward his mission infront of Moses and strengthens him to accomplish it. God promises that on the very mount, he would worship him after having led them out of Egypt. God does not hesitate to make use of the broken, provided one is willing to be led by God’s spirit. Every good and bad experience could be made use for the building up of the community of God. No one is born angel, live as an angel and die as an angel. We are human beings who are weak and sinful. God’s mercy and grace can do wonders in those who listen and follow the designs of God. Do I allow myself to be led by God? Year Two Isa 10:5-7, 13-16 Mediation The Lord is Almighty! The arrow is in the hand of the person who uses it. The axe is the person who uses it to cut. To certain ...

  15th week Tuesday in Ordinary Time Year One Be Firm in Faith! Ex 2:1-15 Meditation Moses had fear for what he had done and knowing the king is looking for him; he escaped to land of Midian. Moses had feelings for the chosen people of God. He had to run away for killing an Egyptian. He ran away from Egypt. Those who go wrong can’t face people. People question them and they do not accept them. It was rejection from Hebrews themselves and the fear of King made him to leave the place. Situations arise as far as to leave the place and situation for better. Let that time of leaving place be opportunity for renewal and growth in silence for the greater glory of God.   We have to allow God work in us. We know later, how God makes use of Moses for his great mission of leading Israel out of Egypt. Do we take chance for self-renewal? Year Two Isa 7:1-9 Meditation Be Firm in Faith Faith is God’s gift. Some people do question their faith. Some others doubt their fai...

  15th week Monday in Ordinary Time Year One Ex 1:8-14, 22 Meditation Learn to do right; seek justice! There is time of prosperity and liberty, then comes oppression and suppression. We see life is made up of ups and downs. The Isreal were treated badly to control them. There is threat to progressive group or uprising people. the Isreal faced it in Egypt the oppression. Even today the thriving, industrious and productive people are target by the week and feeble to make their presence felt. The thinking of the destructive people would be to weaken the strong to make themselves feel strong. In common parlance we say this attitude is known as crab mentality. It is evil neither a human value or a Divine will. Let live and flourish and let others live and prosper! Are we free from the attitude of fulling down the other? Year Two Is 1:10-17 Learn to do right; seek justice Human beings offer to God different things, including animals, precious things, food, fruits and ...

  14th week Saturday in Ordinary Time Year One Here I am. Send me!” Gen 49:29-33; 50:15-25 Jacob was buried in the same place as Abraham, and Joseph's bones were said to have been taken to Canaan. Moses carries the bones of Joseph back to Canaan. Why this attachment to place and people? Live in a God-given place. Maybe God’s own land is the holy land. An attachment to place can be imprisoning, but associated with blessings, it could be liberating. We fight for the places and lands … so many wars were fought for holy places, and many wars are being fought. Why not be liberated from attachment to places and worship, for God is wherever we are? Whatever situation we live in, it is God given. Lord knows what is good for us. Let us take life as it comes! Are we free from attachment to a place? Year Two Isa 6:1-8 Meditation “Here I am , Send me!” “We know that the Lord is holy, no one can become as holy as God. We remain human and sinful. At the sight and thought of the...

  14th week Friday in Ordinary Time Year One Meditation The Downfall is Due to Sin! Gen 46:1-30 As the need of the time, the chosen family of God is placed in Egypt. The place is going to be good for Israel for years to come. They were sixty-six in all when they entered Egypt. They lived 215 years in Egypt, and when they left the nation, there were many.   They grew into a great nation in Egypt. God blessed them for many generations in Egypt. The future is not in our hands, but it is in the hands of God. God leads us to the places where we can flourish, and some generations may have to face hardships, but the Lord is going to be our consolation in good and bad times. Do we trust that God is our consolation? Year Two Hos 14:1-9 Meditation The Downfall is Due to Sin! The downfall is due to sin. It is the sin that is the cause of sickness and death. God created humans for life and eternity in a state of grace. Humanity failed, sinned, and brought about their d...

  14th week Thursday in Ordinary Time Year One Gen 44:18, 45:5 Meditation For I am God and not a Human! 5 And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.( Gen 45:5) Family gatherings for good and sad occasions are moments of blessing. Where people gather in faith, there is the presence of God. God is communion. God loves the communion of people. It needs faith to consider the great works of God. Though there are betrayals in life, God turns them to be good and fruitful for the renewal of life. God wants the good of his people. God saved the sons of Jacob in time of famine by letting Joseph, the beloved son of Jacob, be lost and sold to the Egyptians. We need eye faith to count the blessings of God. Do we have enough faith to see God’s hand working in our lives? Year Two Hos 11:1-4, 8-9 Meditation For I am God and not a Human Israel was a little child that God loved. As the chil...

  14th Week Wednesday in Ordinary Time Year One Meditation Are We Grateful! Gen 41:55-57, 42:5-7 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do.” 56 And since the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, all the world came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine became severe throughout the world. (Gen 32:22-32). God raised Joseph of Egypt to be the governor and to manage the difficult time.   The working of the Lord is marvellous; from all over the world, people came to buy food grains. His brothers came from the land of Canaan. Joseph recognizes them and he treated them as if he does not know him. What we consider as useless becomes important.    A slave can become a leader. It is in the hands of God. A person who was r...

  14th Week Tuesday in Ordinary Time Year One Gen 32:22-32 Are We Willing to Be Led by Someone? We do wrestle with God. Jacob is an example of fighting the whole night with God. It is God who takes the chance to strike Jacob in his hip, but still Jacob does not allow him to go. He puts up his fight steadily. God likes the spirit of fighting with humans and God for good.   Jacob does not allow God to go without blessing. Everyone fights a battle in life; some are open, and many are hidden. We need perseverance in our battle of life and ask God to bless us. Let us not leave God without blessing us. This shows our trust and need for God in our lives. Life is a holy fight between the forces of good and evil. Do we have a positive spirit towards the life battles we fight? Year Two Hos 8:4-7, 11-13 Meditation Hosea says the people of Israel have chosen kings, gold and silver. They made gods for themselves. They have forgotten the true God. The people will be punished...

   14th Week Monday in Ordinary Time Year One Gen 28:10-22 Recall the Place of Your God Experience! We feel the presence of God in the places we visit, live and have lived.    The presence of God is powerful in certain places. God dwells everywhere, and particularly in some holy places; his presence is felt in  those places where God is experienced, which are often frequented by people.    In the place of the dream of Jacob, he felt the presence of God and his assurance. He calls the place a house of God and the gate of heaven (Bethel). He takes a stone, pours oil on it, and builds an altar to offer prayers to God for the spiritual experience he had. Let us go back in time and remember the places of our spiritual experiences. Do we remember the land of our spiritual experience? Year Two Hos 2:14, 15-16, 19-20 Meditation God's Love is Lasting A bond between the love and beloved, wife and husband, is deep and lasting. So is the love of God for ...

  14th Week Monday in Ordinary Time Year One Gen 28:10-22 Recall the Place of Your God Experience! We feel the presence of God in the places we visit, live and have lived.   The presence of God is powerful in certain places. God dwells everywhere, and particularly in some holy places; his presence is felt in  those places where God is experienced, which are often frequented by people.   In the place of the dream of Jacob, he felt the presence of God and his assurance. He calls the place a house of God and the gate of heaven (Bethel). He takes a stone, pours oil on it, and builds an altar to offer prayers to God for the spiritual experience he had. Let us go back in time and remember the places of our spiritual experiences. Do we remember the land of our spiritual experience? Year Two Hos 2:14, 15-16, 19-20 Meditation God's Love is Lasting A bond between the love and beloved, wife and husband, is deep and lasting. So is the love of God for ...

  13th Week Ordinary Time Saturday Year One Gen 27:1-5, 15-29 A Failure Can be a Way to Do Right! The birthright blessing of Esau, the elder son of Isaac, is stolen by Jacob. It is a tragedy for Esau. Jacob receives the blessing from Isaac through a foul play. The blessings are inherited by Jacob. It is an injustice and a wrong that has happened. We can question and argue in varied ways about this happening. Once the blessing is given, it cannot be taken back. Even if one has played a foul game in receiving the blessing. Inasmuch as the blessing is a blessing and it is a gift, grace and inheritance, so no one can alter it. At this point, we ponder that it is the working of God, and the hand of God is there. God blesses those whom he chooses and the idea who can understand the ways of the Lord and teach him justice and right. Let us be subject to God’s designs. Do we accept the Lord's workings as his designs for us? Year Two Amos 9:11-15 Meditation A Failure Can be...

  13th Week: Ordinary Time Friday Year One   Gen; 23:1-4,19; 24:1-8 Share and Care! 1Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his house, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh 3 and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live, 4 but will go to my country and to my kindred and get a wife for my son Isaac.”(Gen 24:1-4). Abraham wanted his son Isaac to marry someone from his kindred and wanted the girl to live in the land of the Canaanites. May be faithfulness to his kinder and faithfulness to the land which God has shown him as the promised land. Faithfulness demands one to be integral. As we grow in life and in the spirit of God, we need to become people of integrity. Integrity lets us to give in and take on to things that come in ou...