BREAD FOR YOUTH

  Note: This reflection is not of the Feast of St Teresa of the Child Jesus. 26th Week Wednesday in Ordinary Time Year One Neh 2:1-8 Nehemiah Sent to Judah! Meditation Nehemiah was serving the King. Nehemiah served the wine to the King Artaxerxes and appears to the king sad; the king asks him why are you sad; he says how can I be happy when the city and tombs of our ancestor are ruined and without care. Nehemiah wants to do something to his ancestor’s tombs and so the king gives his necessary permission and allowance to proceed with his plea. Today we keep the feast of St Francis of Assisi a great saint of the catholic Church. The family and fraternity of Franciscans is probably the biggest. St Francis heard the voice to rebuild the Church and he in fact rebuilt the ruined Church physically and spiritually. Today we are asked to take care of the mother earth. Now India has made landing on the sister moon for more explorations through Chandran 3. We need to keep in mind ...

  26th Week Tuesday in Ordinary Time Year One Zech 8:20-23 Many People Drawn to Jerusalem! Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, the inhabitants of many cities;   the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, “Come, let us go to entreat the favor of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.”   Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from nations of every language shall take hold of a Jew, grasping his garment and saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”(Zech 8:20-23). Meditation Zechariah is the son of Berechiah the son of Iddo. He was a post-exile prophet who has visions of the life of Israel.   The young and old, men and women, will sit in the city squares and chat and play. Good days will come back. All people of God will be brought back to the city o...

  26th Week Monday in Ordinary Time Year One Zechariah 8:1-8 Meditation God Brings Back His People! The scripture passage contains a prophetic message from the Lord, declaring His intense love and jealousy for Zion. God promises to return to Jerusalem, dwell in its midst, and transform it into a city of truth and righteousness. He paints a picture of peace and restoration — where the elderly sit safely in the streets and children play freely. Even though the people may think such restoration is too marvellous or impossible, God affirms that nothing is too hard for Him. He promises to bring His people back from east and west and to be their God in truth and righteousness. God's "zeal" for Zion is not a passive affection but a passionate, active love. His "jealousy" isn't petty or envious — it’s protective, like a parent for their child. This shows us that God is not distant or indifferent to our suffering; He is emotionally invested in His people ...

  25th week Saturday in Ordinary Time Year One Zech 2:1-5, 10-11a   I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” Then the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him, and said to him, “Run, say to that young man: Jerusalem shall be inhabited like villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and animals in it.   For I will be a wall of fire all around it, says the Lord, and I will be the glory within it.”   Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. Meditation Jerusalem is a city of God. The people of Israel longed to visit the city of Jeru...

  25th week Friday in Ordinary Time Year One Hag 2:1-9 Christ will Come! Encouragement in the Face of Discouragement: The older generation remembered Solomon’s temple and felt the new temple paled in comparison. God acknowledges this discouragement but urges them to continue. "Be strong… for I am with you": Repeated three times this is central to God's message. It mirrors encouragements from earlier in Israel’s history (like Joshua 1). God’s Promise of His Presence: God reminds them of the covenant and that His Spirit is still among them a powerful reassurance. Prophetic Vision of Glory and Peace: God promises that the “latter glory” of the temple will surpass the former. This has both immediate and future (messianic) implications. Do we believe that in coming of Christ and the final peace of God's kingdom?         Year Two Eccl 3:1-11 We are Made for Eternity! There is a time to be born and a time to die. There is a time to plan...

  25th week Thursday in Ordinary Time Year One Hag 1:1-8 The Command to Rebuild the Temple!   In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:   Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house. Then the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying: Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared.   You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and you that earn wages earn wages to put them into a bag with holes. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared. 8 Go up to the hill...

  25th week Wednesday in Ordinary Time Year One Ezra 9:5-9 Eza’s Prayer! At the evening sacrifice I got up from my fasting, with my garments and my mantle torn, and fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the Lord my God,   and said, “O my God, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.   From the days of our ancestors to this day we have been deep in guilt, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as is now the case.   But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the Lord our God, who has left us a remnant, and given us a stake in his holy place, in order that he may brighten our eyes and grant us a little sustenance in our slavery. For we are slaves; yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has exte...

  25th week Tuesday in Ordinary Time Year One Ezra 6:7-8,12, 14-20 let the work on this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site. Moreover I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God: the cost is to be paid to these people, in full and without delay, from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province Beyond the River. May the God who has established his name there overthrow any king or people that shall put forth a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, make a decree; let it be done with all diligence.” So the elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of the prophet Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished their building by command of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus, Darius, and King Artaxerxes of Persia;   and this house was finished on the third day ...

  25th week Monday in Ordinary Time Year One Meditation Ezra 1:1-6   In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia so that he sent a herald throughout all his kingdom, and also in a written edict declared:   “Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah.   Any of those among you who are of his people—may their God be with them!—are now permitted to go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem; and let all survivors, in whatever place they reside, be assisted by the people of their place with silver and gold, with goods and with animals, besides freewill offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.” The heads of the families of Jud...

  24th week Saturday in Ordinary Time Year One 1 Tim 6:13-16 In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ,   which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.(1 Tim 6:13-16). Meditation One needs to keep family rules to be happy. One needs to follow community laws to live happily. A Christian has to learn to keep the commandments of God to live happy on earth and enter into heaven. Precepts, rules, laws and commandments are ways to live and love; they are not to curb us or to destroy us. Keep the laws and commandments, and it is very impo...

  24th week Friday in Ordinary Time Year One 1 Tim 6:2c-12 False Teaching and True Riches! Teach and urge these duties. Whoever teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that is in accordance with godliness,   is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words. From these come envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions,   and wrangling among those who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment;   for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it;   but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all k...

  24th week Thursday in Ordinary Time Year One 1 Tim 4:12-16 Let God's Word be Foundation of Life! Paul acknowledges that others might look down on Timothy because of his youth, but he doesn’t tell him to argue for his authority he tells him to earn it through his example. It's not about age, but about character. Your speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity can speak louder than your résumé or title. This is a call to integrity and authenticity. Timothy is called to centre his life around God’s Word reading it publicly, exhorting others with it, and teaching it. These are not passive acts; they require deep study, prayer, and humility. It's a reminder that God's Word must remain the foundation of both personal and communal life. Spiritual gifts are entrusted, not earned and neglecting them dishonours both the Giver and those we’re meant to serve. Timothy's calling was affirmed publicly and spiritually; now he must nurture and develop that gift. Likewise, we...

  24th week Wednesday in Ordinary Time Year One 1 Tim 3:14-16   I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that,   if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.   Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in flesh, vindicated[b] in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory (1 Tim 3:14-16). Meditation   God is Human and Divine! Every religion has its special devotion and way of offering salvation to its followers. Christianity’s central belief is that Jesus was born as a human being. He was born of Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit.   He was seen by angels and believed by many Gentiles as the Saviour of the world. He went up in glory to heaven. He is sitting at the right hand of the Father. He will come ag...

  24th week Tuesday in Ordinary Time Year One 1Tim 3:1-13 Qualifications of Bishops The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop[b] desires a noble task.   Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way—   for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.   Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil. Qualifications of Deacons   Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money;   they must hold fas...

  24th week Monday in Ordinary Time Year One 1 Tim 2:1-8   First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,   who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth   For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human,       who gave himself a ransom for all—this was attested at the right time.   For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.   I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument (1 Tim 2:1-8). Meditation Pray that we may live a quiet and peaceful life...

  23rd Saturday in Ordinary Time Year One 1 Tim 1:15-17   The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.   But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever.[a] Amen. (1 Tim 1:15-17) Meditation St Paul expresses that he was the example of God’s mercy and saving action in his life. Like manner all those who believe in Jesus would be saved. It happens to some that they keep on brooding over their sinful life and give thought that their sins will not be forgiven. Jesus came to forgive and give mercy. God’s name is mercy. God forgives and he made the mercy of him possible through the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. It takes courage to ...

  23rd week Friday in Ordinary Time Year One 1 Tim 1:1-2, 12-14 Abuse of Spiritual Power! St Paul thinks of his past life as one who was against Christ and a traitor to the Christians.   Though he does not deserve to be in the ministry of Jesus, the mercy of Jesus allowed him to be a preacher.   He was ignorant of the things he did to Christ and Christians.    Jesus has enlightened him and is transformed. One’s past is not a matter of life.   Everyone has a past that may not be good enough to face life.   But the Lord gives a second chance to blossom.   The grace that Jesus gave to St Paul is not half and half but full.   So much so, St Paul said it, not I, who love Christ lives in him.   God liberates us from sin completely for a new life. Are we aware that the freedom that Jesus gives is complete?   Do we give freedom to be themselves? Year Two 1 Cor 9:16-27 Preaching and Teaching are Gifts with Respo...

  23rd week Thursday in Ordinary Time Year One   Col 3:12-17 Meditation Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.    Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.   Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Col 3:12-17). G...