A Year of Time. . . . .

An Initiative of Jesus Youth

Though even thinking on the subject of time may prove discomforting, it is not a bad
A Missionary Movement at the Service of the church
idea—especially at the beginning of a new year.
As we look into this year we look at a block of time. We see 12 months, 52 weeks,
365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds. And all is a gift from Don Bosco Utume January 11, Sunday: Issue 77
God. We have done nothing to deserve it, earn it, or purchased it. Like the air we • Jambo You(th) is a weekly news letter aimed at helping the Youth in moulding their daily
breathe, time comes to us as a part of life.
lives in Christ.
The gift of time is not ours alone. It is given equally to each person. Rich and poor,
• Our vision is expressed in just two phrases: GOOD CHRISTIANS and
educated and ignorant, strong and weak—every man, woman and child has the same
twenty-four hours every day. RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS.
Another important thing about time is that you cannot stop it. There is no way to slow Pep-up : Stories for Reflection
it down, turn it off, or adjust it. Time marches on. The Young and the Bible : Pauline Year Special (Colossians)

And you cannot bring back time. Once it is gone, it is gone. Yesterday is lost forever.
If yesterday is lost, tomorrow is uncertain. We may look ahead at a full year’s block of
time, but we really have no guarantee that we will experience any of it.
Obviously, time is one of our most precious possessions. We can waste it. We can
worry over it. We can spend it on ourselves. Or, as good stewards, we can invest it in
the Kingdom of God.
The new year is full of time. As the seconds tick away, will you be tossing time out
the window, or will you make every minute count?
Steven B. Cloud
Last Drop
A New Year’s Prayer
Dear Lord, please give me…
A few friends who understand me and remain my friends;
A work to do which has real value,
without which the world would be poorer;
A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed;
An understanding heart;
A sense of humor;
Time for quiet, silent meditation;
A feeling of the presence of God;
The patience to wait for the coming of these things,
With the wisdom to recognize them when they come. Amen.
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Features
Points to Ponder : I Cor. 13, A Christmas Version
Saint of the Week : St. Macrina the Elder
Reflection : A Year of Time
Last Drop : A New Year’s Prayer
A Small Candle !
This is a story about a small candle carried by a man who was climbing the stairs of a lighthouse.
In their way up to the top, the candle asked the man, "Where are we going?"
"We're going to the top of this lighthouse and give signals to the big ships on the ocean," the man an-
swered.
"What? How could it be possible for me with my small light to give signals to those big ships?"
"They will never be able to see my light", replied the candle weakly.
"That's your part. If your light is small, let it be. All you have to do is keep burning and leave the rest to
me", said the man.
A little later, they arrived at the top of the lighthouse where there was a big lamp with a loop behind it.
Then the man lit the lamp with the light of the candle and instantly, the place shone so brightly that the
ships on the ocean could see its light.
With our being and our limitations, we're hardly able to do any meaningful things. Yet, one thing you
should bear in mind is that your life is like a small candle in God's powerful hand. All your abilities and
know-how will remain as a small light if you don't put your life in God's hand. On the contrary, even if
your light is so small or dim, if you entrust all your life to God, he is able to make your small light into a
big one that brings blessings to many people.
Even though it wasn't impossible for Joshua, who was Moses' servant, to lead the Israelis invading the
Canaan. God comforted and strengthened Joshua that He would never leave him. God even promised
him victory over victory. All God asked from him was, "Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to
obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may
be successful wherever you go." (Joshua 1:7)
In the same way this new year is an invitation from God to put our trust and confidence in God; with
our limitations and littleness God will act in his own way to get his message across to the World.

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Editor: Shyjan Sdb
 The Young and the Bible
Pauline Year Special 7 If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling
Paul’s Letter to the Colossians
1. When and where was this letter written? In a prison in Rome by Paul between
A.D. 61 - 63.
2. Who joined with Paul to write this letter? Timothy (1:1)
3. Who started the church in Colossae? Epaphras (1:7)
4. Who is the head of the body the Church? Christ (1:18)
5. What is God’s mystery? Christ himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge (2:2-3)
6. How should a person live who has accepted Jesus Christ ? Rooted and built up
in him and established in the faith (2:6-7)
7. In whom the whole fullness of deity dwell bodily? In Christ (2:9)
8. What should the person who has risen with Christ seek? Seek the things that
are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (3:1)
9. What should we put to death in order to escape the wrath of God? Whatever is
earthly in us; fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed (3:5)
10. What must one get rid of? Anger, wrath, malice, slander and abusive lan-
guage (3:8)
11. What does Paul advice the children to do? Children obey your parents in eve-
rything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord (3:20)
12. What does Paul advice the fathers to do? Fathers, do not provoke your chil-
dren, or they lose heart (3:21)
13. How does one cloth oneself as God’s chosen, holy and beloved? With compas-
sion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience (3:12)
14. How should we bear with one another? If any one has complaint against an-
other, forgive each other just as the Lord has forgiven us (3:13)
15. What should rule in our hearts? The peace of Christ (3:15)
16. How should the man of faith perform his daily duties? Everything done in a
word or deed, be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
the Father through him (3:17)
17. For what does Paul request the prayers of the Colossians? So that God would
open to him a door for the word, that he might declare the mystery of Christ
(4:3)
18. How should ones speech always be? Gracious (4:6)
19. What does Paul call Luke? The beloved physician (4:14)
Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits.
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First Corinthians 13 - A Christmas Version
lights and shining balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just a
decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, pre-
paring gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at
mealtime but do not show love to my family, I'm just a cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that
I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me noth-
ing.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to
kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated better Christmas
and table linens.
Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they
are there to be in the way.
Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but re-
joices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all thing, endures all
things.
Love never fails.
Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust
but giving the gift of love will endure.
SAINT for the WEEK
January 14 St. Macrina the Elder
There are two Saints Macrina, one the grandmother of the
other. St. Macrina the elder was the matriarch of a remarkable
spiritual family living in Pontus-in-Asia (modern Northern Tur-
key, by the Black Sea), the mother of St. Basil the Great and
his younger brother, the theologian St. Gregory, bishop of
Nyssa. These are two of the so-called ‘Cappadocian Fathers’.
Macrina herself was a disciple of the distinguished Bishop of
Neo-Caesarea in Pontus, St. Gregory the Wonderworker (+270). She suffered much
for the faith, including loss of property, but transferred to her children and her holy
grandchild the love of Christ which sustained her. She died in 340.
Build on yesterday's success and learn from yesterday's failures. Live in today.
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