BREAD FOR YOUTH

  29th Week Wednesday in Ordinary Time Year One Rom 6:12-18 Meditation Humans Look for Time of Grace! Human bodies are instruments of sin and grace. Let no one use the human body as a means for sin. Let the human body glorify God. The human body is God’s gift and God’s Marval. Through the human body, humans to some extent comprehend God and his glory. The word of God says humans are made in the image of God. God has free will and he is perfect; God always makes good choices. Instead, humans lack the capacity to make use of the free will well and fall into evil, disobedience and sin. Let us not use human bodies to pride and disobedient losing the grace of God but use   for righteousness’ sake. humans were slaves of disobedience to God but now through the power of the passion of our Lord Jesus we are made slaves of righteousness. One has to offer himself/herself for the mercy and obedience of God through Jesus Christ for fullness of life on earth and in heaven. Are hum...

  29th Week Tuesday in Ordinary Time Year One Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21-21 Meditation Let us Serve! Obedience brings salvation. Disobedience brings death. In obedience consists life and its joys. One should obey the voice which God has put into humans. This voice could be distorted because of selfishness and human tendency to evil; in such case one should listen to his elders. Who are the elders? Parents, grandparents, authority, those who have responsibility and concern over us. It does not mean that one blindly obeys them but seeks explanation and clarification that is needed. At the end of the dialogue, we submit to God and to our elders. Such an obedience will bear fruit. For a believer obeying God and elders would bring lot of blessings. Many evils are due to disobedience against one another and God our creator. Our first parents disobeyed and fallen into sin; Jusus obeyed Father even to the death on the cross and we have life and life to the full. Obedience invol...

  29th Week Monday in Ordinary Time Year One Rom 4:20-25 Meditation God’s Promises will be True! God keeps his promise. God made humans to be happy forever. Humans disobeyed God. Not only the first parents disobeyed God but each one of us disobey God daily. Humans choose their own ways and means of being happy but they fail to find happiness. God promised to humans that he would bring them back to his kingdom. God made it possible through his Son Jesus Christ. Humans have to trust in the promise of God. God’s promises are not empty. God’s promises will be fulfilled in right time. God’s promises are not just about food and drink but of eternal life. God makes us happy by carrying out his promises in life. Today humans want automatic fulfilment of promises of God. One should realise life is not automatic but it is to be lived in time and space to realise the life and its sorrows and joys. God’s promises are a full package of long journey which is perfectly planned with its ...

  28th Week Saturday in Ordinary Time Year One Rom 4:13, 16-18 Meditation Have Faith in God! The inheritance of God is not given to descendants of Abraham but those who keep and live in faith. Abraham is the father of faith. We belong to a group and so one can enjoy the royalties; it is not the case with regard to God, one has to keep and live the faith. Abraham is known as the father of faith because he hoped against hope and believed in God that he would have son at the old age. The son he bore at the old age was asked offer as sacrifice he went to offer his as sacrifice. The Lord saves Isac and provides a ram in the bush to offer as sacrifice. It is the faith of Abraham that led him all through his life. God promised that his descendants will be like sands on the seashore and as numerous as stars of the sky, he believed in God. Today it is not enough one belong to the descendance of Abraham to be saved but one should have faith. Faith in Jesus will save us. Faith in God ...

  28th Week Friday in Ordinary Time Year One Rom 4:1-8 Meditation Grace does Good! Salvation in Jesus is not the merit of the individuals; all are sinners beyond redemption. humans are called to live moral and virtues life to find joy and meaning in this life and next; they do live virtues life but by human effort alone one will not be saved. Salvation in not our merits and works but the free and gratuitous gift of God. God forgives the sinners. Humans lose hope in their sinful life; no more acts of their own deed and merits can make them contented to earn salvation, unless the Lord enters into their lives through this passion, death and resurrection which the plan of the God the Father for the humanity. God forgave David his sins and blessed his household with the Saviour of the World. Where there is sin grace is in abundance. It is not an encouragement for sinful life but the eternal mercy of God to bring one to the right path of life leading one to eternity. Do you b...

   28th Week Thursday in Ordinary Time Year One Rom 3:21-30 Meditation Unity is Grace! To be precise, law will save the person but faith in Jesus is greater than law; faith in Jesus saves because it includes the law and goes beyond it. We are saved by faith in the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.    Law does its good work but not all that is needed for the salvation; faith in Jesus is complete and it will grace us with salvation.    One is justified not only by the acts of law but by faith in Jesus. Faith in Jesus does not exclude the good deeds and law. Law and good deeds are human effort which are good in themselves but faith in Jesus is the saving act of God which cancels sins those even the law and good deeds cannot do it. God is not only God of Jews; the chosen people of God. God is God of all; every human person is God’s loving child and we belong to him. God loves all humans and he wants to save all people. He has no favourites; God saves ev...

  28th Week Wednesday in Ordinary Time Year One Rom 2:1-11 God’s Judgment is Just! St Paul addresses those who judge others but do the same things. His message is clear: you condemn yourself when you pass judgment while living in sin. This forces self-examination—how often do we focus on the faults of others while ignoring our own? St Paul reminds us that God’s patience and kindness are not signs of indifference to sin, but invitations to repentance. Grace is not permission to continue in sin—it’s space to turn around. St. Paul makes it clear that God’s judgment is based on what each person has done. This doesn’t contradict the message of salvation by grace—rather, it shows that a transformed life bears fruit. Good deeds don’t earn salvation, but they are evidence of a changed heart. Examine yourself before judging others. It’s easy to condemn others for their sins, especially when they’re public or different from our own. But St. Paul urges us to first confront our own h...

  28th Week Thursday in Ordinary Time Year One Rom 3:21-30 Meditation Unity is Grace! To be precise, law will save the person but faith in Jesus is greater than law; faith in Jesus saves because it includes the law and goes beyond it. We are saved by faith in the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.   Law does its good work but not all that is needed for the salvation; faith in Jesus is complete and it will grace us with salvation.   One is justified not only by the acts of law but by faith in Jesus. Faith in Jesus does not exclude the good deeds and law. Law and good deeds are human effort which are good in themselves but faith in Jesus is the saving act of God which cancels sins those even the law and good deeds cannot do it. God is not only God of Jews; the chosen people of God. God is God of all; every human person is God’s loving child and we belong to him. God loves all humans and he wants to save all people. He has no favourites; God saves everyone w...

 28th Week Tuesday in Ordinary Time Year One Rom 1:16-25 The Power of the Gospel! Meditation Beliefs in life are very important in determining fact of life. Faith is what makes one’s life. Faith in God, Son of God and Holy Spirit makes the life of a believer meaningful. In the history of the world there rose many men and women of faith to the extent of working for the gospel their entire life and even dying as martyrs. Faith in Jesus made them cross forests, mountains, rivers, oceans, races and clans to proclaim the message of Jesus. Those who live and preach gospel are people filled with faith in Jesus. This faith filled persons are righteous and they live by faith in Jesus. No one can block them. for they are filled with faith in Jesus. Jesus is their Saviour, Master and Lord, they lack nothing. Those who have no faith in Jesus enter into life of impurity, life of lies, server false gods rather than the Creator. May we bless the Lord Jesus and live righteous life by faith in Jesu...

  28th Week Monday in Ordinary Time Year One Rome 1:1-7 Meditation Mission for All! God chose Jesus to bring salvation to humans. It is accomplished by different people in the history of the world and the mission goes on through the election and actualization of mission command of Jesus. St Paul was chosen by God to be apostle of the gospel of God to all and particularly to those who are not Jews. Everyone is called for the mission of Christ. The one who follows Jesus cannot but be a missionary. Following Jesus is two-fold path one is personal and the other is of community sanctification. The person one who is called to follow Jesus and the others who are in relation to him are immersed not only in the cares of the world but in the mission of Jesus. The mission of Jesus is Salvation of humans. Working out salvation for humans is not one day work but it is life long, enduring work of God and the those who accompany them as persons and community would be in heaven forever wit...

  27th Week Saturday in Ordinary Time Year One Joel 3:12-21 Meditation The Glorious Future of Judah! In the scripture the prosperity and blessing of the Lord are connected to abundance of milk, wine, honey and water.   We believe and teach that these things will be plenty in heaven. These are expensive commodities. These are part of precious food of the human persons. This food is liked by most of the people. God gives us best when he blesses us. The way God blesses us is through giving milk, wine, honey and water. These give life, joy and satisfaction in life. These and many other good things of life will be available in the kingdom of God. We can make the kingdom of God come among us by sharing what we have with one another and thus living in joy and happiness wherever we live. Do we believe that we have God given power to establish the Kingdom of God? Year Two Gal 3:22-29 We are Made One in Christ! There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free...

  27th Week Friday in Ordinary Time Year One Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2 A Call to Repentance and Prayer! Meditation Prayer of lamentation by priest. Priests are crying to God for help and intervention. There are natural calamities believed to be caused by God for the evil humans have committed. There can be destruction by fire, drought and fests. They destroy crops and life in the land. The Lord only can protect. If the Lord has to protect, the way for humans is to repent and change their ways. In the ages passed humans depended on nature for their sustenance and on God. Humans forget of God and his goodness, when they become self-sufficient. God is in control of nature, humans, world and the universe. Every time we are assailed by calamity, harm, destruction, evil and trouble, let us approach God in heaven, he will save us from impending harm and leads to safe space and time. Do we seek God’s help in time of harm and calamity? Year Two Gal 3:7-14 Meditation Faith Does...

  27th Week Thursday in Ordinary Time Year One Mal 3:13-4:2 The Reward of the Faithful-The Great Day of the Lord! Meditation We see in the world the unrighteous and evil doer flourishing. The righteous have a thought what gain is in following the Lord and his commands. For the good only pain, suffering, sorrows and troubles to face. It is true that life is such in the world we live. Human experience teaches that the good will have happy ending. Though the evil bag the prize, at the end the winners will be the good and faithful people. Lord invites each one to more commitment and dedication to God and to one another. Unfaithfulness leads to destruction, evil and sorrow in this world and in the next world. Let us commit to God and his ways so that we may be members of the glorious heaven, saved through God, Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. Do we trust in the law that good will win?   Year Two Gal 3:1-5 Meditation May we Stop Moving Spirit to Material! At times...

  27th Week Wednesday in Ordinary Time Year One Jon 4:1-11 Meditation Jonah is Reproved! Jonah was upset with God for the transformation that has taken place in the people. He was angry with God, for he let the bush grew and die which was a shade for him in the hot sun. The Lords ways do not match human understanding. The Lord wanted to put an end to the life of the city of Nineveh but through the instrumentality of Johan he saves it. Probable Johan was upset with the ways of God. He wants to end his life or prefers to die at the actions of God. Desiring to die is a total surrender to God, which leads life on earth and heaven. It is spiritual attitude of surrender to God the Almighty. If Johan is so irritable for the things, for which he is not responsible; how much more God should feel? God feels for the people of Nineveh and designs a plan to protect them. The Lord is one who is interested in the wellbeing of humans, world and   universe, takes care of us. Let us h...

  27th Week Tuesday in Ordinary Time Year One Jon 3:1-10 Conversion of Nineveh! Meditation A great fast was proclaimed by Jonah. A great fast under taken by the people of Nineveh seems to be very impressive. All the people and animals taken up fast and thus to reform their lives. The Lord who sees their fast at the preaching of Jonah and changes his mind instead of bringing calamity brings upon them life and blessings. The Lord time and again brings his people for repentance and conversion of heart. The reason for this is that for happiness of humans the way is to changes of heart. As human beings are weak and fragile fall into sin and evil. The way to overcome is to resolve to transformation and amend their ways and return to God and his commands. Do we make use of times of conversion and renewal? Year Two Gal 1:13-24 Meditation True Conversion Takes Time! After the conversion of Saul to Paul, he went to the Arabian desert for three years to pray and be instr...

  27th Week Monday in Ordinary Time Year One Jon 1:1-17; 2:10 Jonah Tries to Run Away from God! Meditation Running away from God, reality and facts is normal for many people; for they fear that they are not able to face God and problems of life. On the other hand, God will not leave them to their fears and problems. He goes after them, and he carries out his mission through them. God can do wonders with those who are dispose to him. Johan realizes that he disobeyed God and takes up the punishment of being thrown into the sea; for the good of those in the ship. The Lord saves his life for he realized his wrong and cease to exist for the good and fear of the Lord. God brings him safe to the shore through, the whale which swallows him and brings him to the shore of Nineveh.   God’s ways are mysterious, and we need lot of time and space to recount his wonders and marvels. Do we know that God has his ways of bring change in us? Year Two Gal 1:6-12 Meditation God...

  26th Week Saturday in Ordinary Time Year One Bar 4:5-12, 27-29 Encouragement for Israel! Meditation Punishment is not a curb or to destroy a person or a community; it is to be able to overcome what is lacking and to do well in life. In a way a displeasure at someone is medicinal and constructive rather than destructive. The people of Israel were punished for their sins and for the sins of their ancestors. Sometimes the exile and the punishment they underwent was for years. But those years were renewal and building up their faith in God. The Lord blessed them and brought them back to their own land and gave them and their children joy and peace. Our blessed Mother is with us in our time of renewal and transformation. As Mary was at the foot of the Cross, accompanying him to accomplish the salvific will of the Father. As we recite the rosary in honour of our Blessed Mother Mary, we contemplate on her life of sorrows and joys and we take part in our life and make our lif...

  26th Week Friday in Ordinary Time Year One Bar 1:15-21 Confession of Sins! 15 And you shall say: The Lord our God is in the right, but there is open shame on us today, on the people of Judah, on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 16 and on our kings, our rulers, our priests, our prophets, and our ancestors, 17 because we have sinned before the Lord. 18 We have disobeyed him, and have not heeded the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in the statutes of the Lord that he set before us. 19 From the time when the Lord brought our ancestors out of the land of Egypt until today, we have been disobedient to the Lord our God, and we have been negligent, in not heeding his voice. 20 So to this day there have clung to us the calamities and the curse that the Lord declared through his servant Moses at the time when he brought our ancestors out of the land of Egypt to give us a land flowing with milk and honey. 21 We did not listen to the voice of the Lord our God in all the words of the p...

  Readings are not of the Day! 26th Week Thursday in Ordinary Time Year One Neh 8: 1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12 Meditation Ezra himself rewrote the parts of the Law of God. His contribution to the Law of God is praiseworthy. He reads the Law of God to the people of Israel, which is a very important part of the life of the people of God, the Word of God and Law of God is important for the people. They become people of God and God becomes real to them. They are to abide by the law and people weep for God gave them law to follow, as a sign of joy and repentance. Israel forms their identity as nation and people of God. One should give priority to listen to the Word of God. The Word of God forms us as God’s people. By listening to the Word of God, one listens to God’s own voice speaking to persons. Listening to the Word of God brings about renewal and transformation in the lives of people; so, it is time of rejoicing. It is time too for external celebration and of sharing food with others...