Jambo Youth Issue 86

Lighter Side of Life

Last Drop Eden And Gethsemane In Spirit, all Creation exists And nothing is more or less The Garden of Gethsemane And the Garden of Eden, blessed – How sharp the differences noted Between such diverse lands… In one, I hold a seedling or pup; In the other, I’ve nails through my hands.

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Jambo You(th) 2009

An Initiative of Jesus Youth A Missionary Movement at the Service of the Church

March 15, Sunday: Issue 86

Don Bosco Utume

Jambo You(th) is a weekly news letter aimed at helping the Youth in moulding their daily lives in Christ. Our vision is expressed in just two phrases: GOOD CHRISTIANS and

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RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS.

Features

A man was brought to Mercy Hospital and taken in for coronary surgery. The operation went well and, as the groggy man regained consciousness, he was reassured by a Sister of Mercy, who was waiting by his bed. "Mr. Smith, you're going to be just fine," said the nun, gently patting his hand. "We do need to know, however, how you intend to pay for your stay here. Are you covered by insurance?" "No, I'm not," the man whispered hoarsely. "Can you pay in cash?" persisted the nun. "I'm afraid I cannot, Sister." "Well, do you have any close relatives?" the nun essayed. "Just my sister in New Mexico," he volunteered. "But she's a humble spinster nun." "Oh, I must correct you, Mr. Smith. Nuns are not 'spinsters.' They are married to God." "Wonderful," said Smith. "In that case, please send the bill to my brother-in-law."

Pep-up To the Young Points to Ponder Saint of the Week Jokes Last Drop

: Stories for Reflection : Message from the Pope : What to Give up? : St. Cyril of Jerusalem : For A Lighter Side of Life : Eden and Gethsemane

Why Go To Church? A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. “I’ve gone for 30 years now,” he wrote, “and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. So, I think I’m wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.”This started a real controversy in the “Letters to the Editor” column. Much to the delight of the editor, it went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: “I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this, they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!” Lesson: When you are DOWN to nothing….God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical and our spiritual nourishment!

www.jesusyouth.org Editor: Shyjan Sdb

Jambo You(th) 2009

40 Thoughts for Lent from Pope Benedict XVI A Lenten Reflection What to Give Up?

(These thoughts are taken form the messages of Pope from 2006 until this year) Continued from J Y 85 13. Lent offers us a providential opportunity to deepen the meaning and value of our Christian lives, and it spurs us to rediscover the mercy of God so that we, in turn, become more merciful toward our brothers and sisters. (2008) 14. "You cannot serve God and mammon" (Lk 16,13). Almsgiving helps us to overcome this constant temptation, teaching us to respond to our neighbour’s needs and to share with others whatever we possess through divine goodness. (2008) 15. The force of attraction to material riches and just how categorical our decision must be not to make of them an idol, Jesus confirms in a resolute way: "You cannot serve God and mammon" (Lk 16,13). (2008) 16. We are not owners but rather administrators of the goods we possess: these, then, are not to be considered as our exclusive possession, but means through which the Lord calls each one of us to act as a steward of His providence for our neighbor. (2008) 17. In those countries whose population is majority Christian, the call to share is even more urgent, since their responsibility toward the many who suffer poverty and abandonment is even greater. To come to their aid is a duty of justice even prior to being an act of charity. (2008) 18. If, in accomplishing a good deed, we do not have as our goal God’s glory and the real well being of our brothers and sisters, looking rather for a return of personal interest or simply of applause, we place ourselves outside of the Gospel vision. (2008) 19. Almsgiving, according to the Gospel, is not mere philanthropy: rather it is a concrete expression of charity, a theological virtue that demands interior conversion to love of God and neighbor, in imitation of Jesus Christ, who, dying on the cross, gave His entire self for us. (2008) 20. There is little use in giving one’s personal goods to others if it leads to a heart puffed up in vainglory: for this reason, the one who knows that God "sees in secret" and in secret will reward, does not seek human recognition for works of mercy. (2008) 21. When we do things out of love, we express the truth of our being; indeed, we have been created not for ourselves but for God and our brothers and sisters (cf. 2 Cor 5,15). (2008) 22. Every time when, for love of God, we share our goods with our neighbour in need, we discover that the fullness of life comes from love and all is returned to us as a blessing in the form of peace, inner satisfaction and joy. Our Father in heaven rewards our almsgiving with His joy. (2008) 23. By drawing close to others through almsgiving, we draw close to God; it can become an instrument for authentic conversion and reconciliation with Him and our fellow men. (2008) 24. Following Christ’s example, we can learn to make of our lives a total gift…not so much in giving a part of what we possess, but our very selves. (2008) 25. May Mary, Mother and faithful Servant of the Lord, help believers to enter the "spiritual battle" of Lent, armed with prayer, fasting and the practice of almsgiving, so as to arrive at the celebration of the Easter Feasts, renewed in spirit. (2008)

To be Continued…

Fasting is a great help to avoid sin and all that leads to it. www.jamboyouth.multiply.com

Jambo You(th) 2009

Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give Give

up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up

complaining——focus on gratitude. pessimism——become an optimist. harsh judgments——think kindly thoughts. worry——trust Divine Providence. discouragement——be full of hope. bitterness——turn to forgiveness. hatred——return good for evil. negativism——be positive. anger——be more patient. pettiness——become mature. gloom——enjoy the beauty that is all around you. jealousy——pray for trust. gossiping——control your tongue. sin——turn to virtue. giving up——hang in there!

SAINT for the WEEK March 18 St. Cyril of Jerusalem A native of Jerusalem, born in about 315, he was responsible for catechumens (those seeking Christian baptism) in the city, and produced a series of discourses, which have survived and which represent his most famous work. Although by association with the life of Christ Jerusalem might seem to possess an honoured status, this was challenged by the archbishop of Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast, one Acacius, and Cyril was dragged into the dispute against his will. A trumped up charge of having sold church property without sanction (in order to aid the poor) was brought against him, and with the connivance of the Emperor he was three times exiled. He was present at the Council of Constantinople in 381, where the decisions taken at Nicaea in 325 on the nature of Christ, as God and man were refined, and spelt out in the Creed which we use on Sundays and which is known at the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. He died in 386. The strength of his writings for the baptismal candidates caused him to be declared a Doctor of the Church somewhat belatedly, in 1882.

Voluntary fasting enables us to grow in the spirit of the Good Samaritan. www.esnips.com/web/JamboYouth

Jambo You(th) 2009