BREAD FOR YOUTH

  December 31 st Meditation: Sing for Joy! Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it.   Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord; for he is coming to judge the earth (Ps 96:11-12). Let there be gladness on earth and rejoicing in heaven. It is evil that takes away joy and makes humans slaves of sin and sadness. Even sea and all that is in it roars for joy. Fields and forests sing the praises of God with their growth. Do we give joyful praise to God? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb  

  December 30 Meditation: Give Glory to God! Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength (Ps 96:7). O families of people, give glory to God. Glory, power and honour is due to God. Humans long for glory, name and fame. God is the creator of all that exists and so in reality glory, honour, name, fame and power belongs to God alone. Do we give glory to God? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

    December 29 Meditation: God is a Just Judge! Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the people (Ps 96:3). Let God’s name be praised.   In everything we are called to Parise and sing his glory. In goodness and evil, in darkness and light, in hope and despair, in health and sickness and in riches and poverty.   God knows us and he guides us in all the actions of life.   God’s Judgment is just and right. Let us submit to him. Do we give praise to God in everything? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  December 27 Meditation: Glorify God! The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples behold his glory (Ps 97:6). The glory of God is everlasting. Those who proclaim and sing the glory of God are blessed. Humans declare the glory of God, and the good people glorify God. Those who are in God sing the glories of God.   Do we sing the glories of God? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  December 26 Meditation, Take Care! Take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge (Ps 31:4). Net is put to trap a bird or animal.   A net is put to trap a person in life. The psalmist prays to save him from the net that is hidden. We are living in the world of the net, which is making life confusing and complex. In this age of the net and networks, only the Lord is one’s refuge. How do we use the net? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  December 25 Meditation: Jesus' Birth is Life! O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth (Ps 96:1). Jesus is born, and he is the Saviour of the World. We have reason to sing and rejoice. A new song is on the lips of people at the moment of great joy and grace. The birth of Jesus is greatest moment of joy and grace.  A new song comes from everyone’s mouth, for the joy is great. Are we aware that at the birth of Jesus, every evil is dead? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  December 24 Meditation Be with God! I will make him firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. I will establish his line forever, and his throne as long as the heavens endure (Ps 89:27,29). The child to be born will be the firstborn of the young woman, and he will be the greatest of all the kings of the earth. To be remembered forever and to live forever is divine. Only God’s name will be remembered forever. Are we in the Lord? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

December 23 Meditation: Choose the Right Path! Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths (Ps 25:4). This verse is a wonderful prayer and reminder to know the ways of the Lord and to be taught by him to take the ways of God.   The paths of God are safe, and they lead us to the places of riches and comfort. Everyone wishes to take the right path to reach the right place at the right time. Do we show right path to others? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  December 22 Meditation, God Cares! The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength (1 Samuel 2: 4). Bows of the mighty are mighty and they are well equipped and well maintained. It can happen and happens often the mighty one’s bows broken or strengthless. On the other hand, the week are given extra strength. Everything is in the hands of God. Do we trust in God’s protection? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  December 20 Meditation Be Worry Free! The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it (Ps 24:1-2). God is the creator of the earth and the entire universe.   All that is in the universe belongs to the Lord. The Lord is the master of the universe. God possess the world.   Everything belongs to God and God is aware of everything. Since God is aware of everything let us give up worry. Do we worry? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  December 27 Meditation, Glorify God! The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory (Ps 97:6). Glory of God is everlasting. Those who proclaim and sing the glory of God are blessed. Humans declare the glory of God and the good people glorify God. Those who are in God, sing the glories of God.   Do we sing the glories of God? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  December 19 Meditation Lord is Our Rock! Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. (Ps 71:3). In time of storm in the deserts and rocky places, creatures in the place take protection at the rocks. A fortress protects the king, queen and the entire kingdom. The Lord has to be one’s rock and fortress so that one can stand tall. Who is our rock and fortress? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  18 December Meditation Pray for the Needy! For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy (Ps 72:1-2). The needy are in want and when their needs are fulfilled, they are grateful to God. The needy has no one to help than God himself. The needs of people are simple but yet times impossible; God in his goodness fulfils the needs of his people. What is the most important need of today? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb  

  December 17 Meditation Prayer for Justice! Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. May he judge your people with righteousness (Ps 72:1-2). King is the one who gets justice to the people.   In the Psalm a prayer is made for the king and to his son to do justice and righteousness. Rulers are under the authority of God and that is what keeps them humble and give justice and righteousness to their subjects. Are we aware we are all under the authority of God? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  December 16 Meditation Magnify the Lord! My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together (Ps 34:2-3). The soul has nothing to boast in reality than in the Lord. Those who boast in the Lord make the humble happy, because humble trust in the Lord. Let every humble person join hands to glorify the Lord. For glory is fitting for the Lord. Do we boast in the Lord? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  December 15 Meditation LORD, Lift up my Soul! To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me (Ps 25:4-5). I am weighed down with a heavy heart.   Lift me up and make me stand in by your side. I know that you will not allow shame to come to me. For you nothing is impossible and let my brother and sister enemies triumph over me. Do we trust in God’s power to lift us up? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb  

  December 13 Meditation Save Us! Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might and come to save us!( Ps 80:2) in our own lives, this verse invites us to bring our needs honestly before God, especially when His presence feels dim or delayed. It encourages us to trust that God’s strength has not diminished, even if our circumstances make it hard to see. The tribes named represent community, unity, and shared journey, reminding us that seeking God is not something we do alone, but something we can do together. Do we give importance to community spirit? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

    December 12 Meditation Meditate on the Law of God! Happy are those, who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night (Ps 1:1-2). No one knowingly likes to follow the advice of the wicked or path of sinners. The law of God is holy and blessed are those who follow the law of God. Blessed are those who are lost in the thought of the law of the Lord. Do we meditation on the law of the Lord?   Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  December 12 Meditation Meditate on the Law of God! Happy are those, who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night (Ps 1:1-2). No one knowingly likes to follow the advice of the wicked or path of sinners. The law of God is holy and blessed are those who follow the law of God. Blessed are those who are lost in the thought of the law of the Lord. Do we meditation on the law of the Lord?  Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  December 11 Meditation I Extol You Lord! I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever (Ps 145:1). Exalt, praise and admire my King and my God. My joy is to bless you and live in your presence. In life and death, I offer my life to you. The life is your gift to me and I do not have better gift than my life itself. I long to love your forever. Is our desire to love God forever? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  December 10 Meditation Bless the LORD! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits – who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases (Ps 103:1-3). Blessing the LORD is joyful. One can not forget the blessings of the LORD and the time and space one travelled in times of good and bad. The LORD forgives and heals, which is the longing of the souls. So, bless the LORD and continue to enjoy praising Him. Do we trust that the LORD heals and forgives? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  December 9 Meditation Give Glory to God All the Time! O Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.   Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples (Ps 96: 1-3). Sing to God a new song.   Let every being and everyone sing to a song to the LORD. Let the glory of God be made known among the nations and among the people. The way to make the glory of God known is to live joyful lives. Those who are joyful and cheerful only can sing the glories of God. Do we declare the Glory of God? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

December 8 Ps 98:1 Meditation Sing a New Song! O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. Song comes forth in the mind, heart and mouth of a person at the wonders of the Lord. Those who are not singers become singers. Those who unliterate emerge as literate. The song and words become words coming from the Spirit of God as the words having eternal value. The song that one sings becomes new song. A song that lingers on in the mind, heart and on the lips. When did you sang a song for the Lord? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  December 6 Ps 147:1-2 Meditation Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. Those who are happy sing and those who possess grateful heart, sing for the wonders that the Lord has done to praise God. The best way to express gratitude to God is to sing praises to Him. Those who sing praises to God are full of joys and they spread that joy to others. The singing of the praises of God will take one to the community of people and to join in heaven for eternity. Do we sing a song for the Lord? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

  December 5 Meditation The Lord is My Light! Ps 27:1 The Lord is my light and my Salvation: whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Ps 27:1) We see in the light things clearly. We have clarity of things in the light, and we make right judgement of things in the light. The external light makes the vision clear.   The internal light of the mind enables us to make right decisions.   The one who possess the light will have Salvation and need not have any fear of darkness.   There is fear in darkness. The fear of darkness should lead us to seek and be in the light of the Lord. The Lord, who is light, will be with us to accompany us along the path of eternity. Do we seek light or darkness? Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb