Three held after protest clash 
(I personally know one of the three, an ex-inmate ...maybe out of work ...an easy prey for the triads)

Police monitoring Apple Daily blockade AD being blockaded because of its support of the democracy movement. No doubt the China Liaison Office behind this ...as it is behind the triad activity above

Mainlanders risk backlash to support Hong Kong protests

My photos of students democracy protests at Mong Kong, Admiralty, Causeway Bay & TST - and of P.L.A. armoured vehicles, Jordan 

My HK Democracy File

1 Maccabees 4: 

The army of Antiochus was led by Gorgias and had 40,000 men.
Judas and his men numbered only 3,000.

Judas implored God for help and then fought bravely. The army of Gorgias was routed.

The next year another force, numbering 60,000 men, was sent against Judas who had 10,000 men.

Once again by prayer and courage, Judas was victorious. Judas gave thanks to God, and then went to Jerusalem.

In Jerusalem Judas re-dedicated the Temple and re-built the city walls

Dear God, please give me the courage of Judas

Psalm 51:

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness, and cleanse me of my sin.

My offences truly I know them.
What is evil in your sight I have done.

But in my defence please don't forget that sinfulness is part of the human condition, part of our DNA.

A pure heart create for me, O God.
Put a steadfast spirit within me.

Give me again the joy of your help. With a spirit of fervor sustain me.

Lord,  you will not spurn a humbled, contrite heart

Recording

Recommended: check these readings early morning, think about them during the day, check them again at night. This habit gives us extra energy, courage, motivation, peace and compassion for each day

Acts 22:

Paul said to the crowd "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus. I was brought up here in Jerusalem. I studied under Gamaliel. I fully observed the Law of our ancestors. I even persecuted this Way to the death, and sent many people to prison

But once when I was on my way to Damascus to arrest followers of the Way, Jesus appeared to me and said 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, and you are persecuting me'. Then a believer in Damascus told me I was to be Jesus' witness in many places"

Up to now, the crowd had listened quietly to Paul, but when he said that Jesus was sending him to non-Jews in far away places, the crowd shouted "Rid the earth of this man! He's not fit to live!"

Jesus, please help Jewish people accept you as the Anointed One

Recording

Mark 4:

Jesus and his disciples got into a boat to cross the lake.

Jesus was so tired that he went to sleep in the boat. A sudden storm caused big waves to lash the boat.

Jesus' friends woke him up  and said "Save us, Lord, we are sinking".

Jesus stood up, and ordered the wind and sea to be calm. Straight away the wind and sea were calm.

Jesus' friends said to each other
"Who is this? Even the wind and sea obey him."

Jesus, please calm the storms in my life, my family, our world

Recording

An apology from Australia to the rest of the world is now warranted

It almost feels as if the Enlightenment never reached our shores – and climate policy is but one victim of the malaise

A conundrum for Pope Francis
Underlying this opposition is a covert hostility to the whole Pope Francis agenda. There are many clerics in Rome who have no desire to follow Francis anywhere near sheep, let alone smell them, or worse, smell like them!

Janet's update from sidelines of the Synod on the Family:  Day 12

Divisions on divorce run to the top at bishops’ summit

ISIS is a wake-up call to learn more about Islam. I'm trying to learn more by watching videos like this one: Muhammad's life (with English subtitles ...and narrated in perfect English ...excellent for English students). 

Why the campaign against IS is doomed

As my dear late father would say when he got to the end of a job: "that's the one I was looking for" ...in this case "the one" is article No. 288, below!

On November 28 last year, this website started daily postings from The Joy of the Gospel by Pope Francis. Today, after almost one year, the final part is posted!  I can say I have read every one of the 288 articles of JG.   An inspiring teaching, although too long!
Soon there will be a new teaching by Pope Francis - on the environment and climate change. I will try to post an article (or part of an article if the article is very long) each day. I hope you will join me in this adventure. My feeling is that one bit a day is enough. One bit to chew over. Trying to read large lumps not so helpful

288. To Mary we pray:

Star of the new evangelization,
help us to bear radiant witness to communion,
service, ardent and generous faith,
justice and love of the poor,
that the joy of the Gospel
may reach to the ends of the earth,
illuminating even the fringes of our world.

Mother of the living Gospel,
wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones,
pray for us.

Amen. Alleluia!
 

Given in Rome , at Saint Peter’s, on 24 November, the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, and the conclusion of the Year of Faith, in the year 2013, the first of my Pontificate.

FRANCIS

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's Hong Kong file
(encouraging local drug addicts to come off drugs)

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Tuesday,  please bless the people of South Asia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:

On this 14th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jilin

Southeast Asia’s Points of Light in a Murky Democratic Dawn

My HK Democracy File

Maccabees 3: 

Judas led the people in many successful battles. He often said that it is easy for a great number of soldiers to be defeated by a few.

"Victory in war does not depend on the size of an army. It is from heaven that strength comes".

As Judas' fame spread, King Antiochus ordered a huge army to attack Judas.

Dear God, please help us put our trust in you rather than in anyone or anything else

Recording of this reading
for English students

Psalms 49-50:

I will turn my mind to a parable,
with the harp I will solve a problem.

The problem is: why do bad people prosper and succeed?

The answer: at the end of their lives bad people will have to face death and judgement, just like everyone else.

When we are rich, we often lack wisdom. Wealth blinds our minds and hearts.

Let's not forgot God and his laws.
Let's try to be good and lead good lives

Lord, please help me understand the meaning of life

Recording

Acts 21:

In Jerusalem Paul gave a report to James and other Christian leaders of all that God had done for non-Jews through his ministry

But Paul was soon seen by Jews from where he had traveled. He was dragged out of the Temple and beaten by a wild crowd

The beating was stopped by a Roman captain who had Paul bound with chains. The crowd was calling out for Paul to be killed

Paul asked for permission to speak to the crowd and the captain agreed. Paul then spoke to the crowd in Hebrew

Jesus, please protect Christians who live in dangerous places

Recording


 
Image has 4 sections for the 4 types of seed in today's Gospel

Mark 4:

One day Jesus told the people this story: a farmer was planting seeds in his field. Some seeds fell on the path. Birds ate them.

Some seeds fell on rocky ground.
They became sickly plants, without roots, and died.

Some seeds fell among thorns.
When they became plants, they were choked by the thorns.

Some seeds fell on good soil
and produced a rich harvest.

Jesus explained the story: people who hear God's word without good will are like the seeds on the path. They are easy prey for Satan.

People who hear God's word only superficially are like the seeds on rocky ground. As soon as difficulties come, such people easily give up.

People who hear God's word with one ear, but with the other are listening to the call of greed and pleasure, are like the seeds among thorns. Greed kills the word.

People who hear God's word with good will and put it into practice,
are like the good seeds which produced a rich harvest.

Jesus, please help me be good seed!

 Recording

The Family Synod….Any Surprise?
The most welcoming surprise for me that came from Pope Francis at the Synod
…..was his plea that the bishops speak boldly

10 years ago today

288  To Mary we pray:

Virgin of listening and contemplation,
Mother of love, Bride of the eternal wedding feast,
pray for the Church, whose pure icon you are,
that she may never be closed in on herself
or lose her passion for establishing God’s kingdom.

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's Hong Kong file
(encouraging local drug addicts to come off drugs)

Come Holy Spirit! Fall afresh on the Synod on the Family as it begins a second week of meeting today in Rome!

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Monday,  please bless the people of Europe & Russia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:

On this 13th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jiangxi

My HK Democracy File

My Islam File

Another important Garnaut article:
Young people of Taiwan and Hong Kong refusing to accept the unification of 'Greater China'

These protesters, armed with their smart phones, sunflowers, yellow ribbons and umbrellas, are taking aim at the Chinese Communist Party's most important asset: the story of inexorably rising power that it pushes out into the world  

List of previous articles by John Garnaut. Such genuine journalism in English is now an endangered species in HK where most media won't publish such work

V2catholic will try to link all future articles by John Garnaut, 
to help HK people access information that local HK media no longer provides. Please encourage HK friends to check v2 each day

Dear bishops, remember that family is messy

Janet's Synod report:  Day 11 

Readings for "Sunday 28"

Isaiah 25: 

On Mount Zion in Jerusalem,
the Lord will prepare for all peoples, a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines.

On this mountain he will delete Death.

The Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek.

Lord, you are my God, I extol you, I praise your name. You, Lord, are a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in distress.

Lord, please give hope and courage to people who are sad and troubled in the world today

Recording of this reading
for English students

Psalm 23:

The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose. Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit.

He guides me along the right path. He is true to his name. If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear. You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me comfort.

You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes. My head you have anointed with oil. My cup is overflowing.

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life. In the Lord's own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.

Recording

Jesus, thank you for the banquet of the Eucharist ....and the eternal banquet of Heaven!

Philippians 4:

I have learnt how to manage on whatever I have. I am ready for anything anywhere: full stomach or empty stomach, poverty or plenty

There is nothing I cannot master
with the help of the One who gives me strength

I thank you my friends for supporting me financially, 
especially when I was in great need. 

Recording

Jesus, bless everyone who has helped me in any way since the day I was born

Today's Gospel

Something tells me that at today's Mass at the Vatican, Pope Francis will use today's Gospel to remind the "hard-line" cardinals that the king sent his messenger to invite everyone, "bad and good alike" to the banquet. The Eucharist is "not a prize for the perfect, but medicine for the sick"

Matthew 22:

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people, ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding.

He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants. “Tell those who have been invited” he said “that I have my banquet all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” 

But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them.

The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. 

Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding.”

So these servants went out on to the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 

Recording

Recommended
 by a reader

One of the inmates I visited at a local hospital yesterday was a man recovering from a bowel cancer operation. For the past week his only nourishment has been a daily HK$2,000 bag of a special solution whose English name I have forgotten, but whose Chinese nickname I remember: "chicken water"  (according to one of the male nurses)!

288. To Mary we pray:

Obtain for us now a new ardour born of the resurrection,
that we may bring to all the Gospel of life
which triumphs over death.

Give us a holy courage to seek new paths,
that the gift of unfading beauty
may reach every man and woman.

Macau:  A total of 40 inmates from African countries were detained in Macao Prison as at 17 August 2014. I hope to visit Macau Prison in December. 

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's Hong Kong file
(encouraging local drug addicts to come off drugs)

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Sunday,  please bless the people of Africa

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:

On this 12th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jiangsu

God bless the Nobel Peace Prize winners! A beautiful account of their work:
Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi win Nobel peace prize

Taiwan urges China to let HK ‘go democratic’

Beijing's distortions and HK's growing desire for change

HK Chief Executive in hot water

 
Gives Beijing an excuse to have CY stand down, thus (temporarily) defusing the student protest

The Second Vatican Council started on this day in 1962. May today's anniversary of Vatican II give fresh heart to Pope Francis and his team as they are accosted by anti-Vatican II cardinals at the present Synod on the Family

Two more cardinals back Communion for divorced and remarried

Janet's Synod report: Day 10

1 Maccabees 2: 

Mattathias was a Jew loyal to his religion at a time when most people were not loyal.

When the king's representative came to the town of Mattathias
and started forcing people to take part in pagan ceremonies,
Mattathias killed him

Mattathias then called on everyone loyal to God to join him in the desert

Mattathias  soon had a small army which gradually won control
of many parts of the country and restored observance of God's law

When Mattathias was coming to the end of his life, he appointed his son Judas as his army successor

Dear God, help us to be loyal to you like Mattathias

Recording of this reading
for English students

Psalms 47-48:

All peoples, clap your hands, cry to God with shouts of joy. For the Lord, our Creator, we must love and honor, great king over all the earth.

Especially in his holy city (Jerusalem) is the Lord worthy to be praised. Praise is fitting on Mount Zion, our earth's most sacred site.

O God, as we pray in your temple,
our hearts meditate on your love.

May peoples and rulers everywhere acknowledge and love you as Creator of the Universe

Let all the peoples praise you,
Lord. Let all the peoples praise you

Recording

Mount Zion today
Enlarged image (beautiful)

Acts 21:

Our sea voyage took us to the city of Caesarea. A prophet there took Paul's belt and used it to tie up his own feet and hands, as a sign of what would happen to Paul in Jerusalem

Everyone implored Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Paul replied "I am ready not only to be tied up,
but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus"

And so we packed up and headed for Jerusalem

Jesus, please give me a bit of Paul's courage

Recording

Mark 3:

Jesus went back to Capernaum. Such a crowd gathered that he could not even have a meal 

When his family  heard about such things, they set out to take care of  him, thinking that he was crazy.

His mother and brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent in a message asking for him.

Jesus was told "Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside asking for you".  Jesus replied "Who are my mother and brothers?"

Then looking round at the people sitting in a circle about him, he said
"Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother".

Jesus, please help me to do your will, even if people sometimes think I'm crazy

Recording

October 14-16, 
Hong Kong

My Islam File

My HK Democracy File

288. 

With Mary we advance confidently towards the fulfilment of this promise, and to her we pray:

Mary, Virgin and Mother,
you who, moved by the Holy Spirit,
welcomed the word of life
in the depths of your humble faith:
as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One,
help us to say our own “yes”
to the urgent call, as pressing as ever,
to proclaim the good news of Jesus.

Two HK residents face death penalty in Vietnam for trafficking

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's Hong Kong file
(encouraging local drug addicts to come off drugs)

O Holy Spirit who powerfully blessed Vatican II, 
please now fall afresh on the current Synod on the Family!

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Saturday,  please bless the people of Central & North America

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:

On this 11th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hunan

My HK Democracy File

My Islam File

End Occupy - Cardinal Zen
Cardinal Zen urged the students to conserve their strength for a long battle, and warned them against falling for the government's tactics to drag things out

Govt calls off talks with protesters 

Pope is tired and sick?  
See report below.
Maybe he's "sick and tired" of opposition to his hopes for a more compassionate Church
- as he tries to get the current Synod on the Family to remember the values of Jesus   

A minority language does not work for a global Church

Catholics need a new lingua franca — two, in fact

1 Maccabees 1:

Some Jews abandoned their religion and made a pact with King Antiochus Epiphanes, a Seleucid king of the Greeks. 

Antiochus conquered many lands, including Israel. He plundered the Temple and forced the Jews to renounce their religion.

But many Jews courageously stood firm and were punished with death. This was a sad and terrible time for Israel.

Dear God, please help us stay faithful to you

Recording of this reading
for English students

Psalm 46:

God is for us a refuge and strength. In time of distress he is a helper close at hand.

Therefore we shall not fear even though the earth should rock,
even though the mountains fall into the sea.

The Lord of hosts is with us.
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Come and consider the works of the Lord, and always remember his words: "Be still and know that I am God".

 Lord, please help me to be still and know that you are God

Recording

Songs based on this psalm
(YouTube):
A Mighty Fortress is our God
and
Be Still and Know that I am God

Acts 20:

Paul continued "You elders of Ephesus are the leaders of the Church of God. Be on your guard against bad leaders trying to mislead people

Remember my example. I never asked anyone for money or clothes. You know how my work as a tentmaker earned enough to support my companions and me

Remember Jesus' words There is more happiness in giving than in receiving"

When he finished speaking, he knelt down with them and prayed. Then they took him to the ship

Jesus, please help Gospel workers imitate Paul

Recording

Mark 3: 

Jesus went up a hill and called his disciples. He chose 12 of them to be his special companions.

He commissioned them for preaching. He gave them power to cast out devils.

The names of the 12: Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter;
James and John the sons of Zebedee,  Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus,  Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot the one who would betray him.

Jesus, please bless and protect all Gospel workers

Recording

(Thank you Hazel for finding this link with images of Jesus and 12 apostles!)

Reform group in Rome calls for family input at synod

Catholic Church Reform's alternate gathering on the family highlights lay vocation

Many articles about Synod issues at: Catholic Church Reform International  (CCRI)

From this link at Catholica

Tony Abbott backs Lateline host Emma Alberici over fiery Hizb ut-Tahrir interview (with video)

Our reckless media fans the flames of disquiet

From a reader in Australia (to go with Synod on Family??):
A couple, who were about to get married, passed away together in an accident. As they arrived at the Gate of St Peter, they asked if they were able to get married in heaven. St Peter was scratching his head, as nobody had ever asked him that before. So he told the couple to wait, while he went back to heaven to find out. They waited and waited, and after a week, St Peter finally returned and happily told the couple that they can get have their wedding in heaven. Then, the coupled asked whether, should their marriage not work out, they can divorce in heaven. St Peter got annoyed, saying: "It took me a whole week to find a priest in heaven - now, I'm going to have to spend years and years finding a divorce lawyer who's in heaven!"

288. Mary constantly contemplates the mystery of God in our world, in human history and in our daily lives. 

She is the woman of prayer and work in Nazareth , and she is also Our Lady of Help, who sets out from her town “with haste” (Lk 1:39 ) to be of service to others. 

This interplay of justice and tenderness, of contemplation and concern for others, is what makes the ecclesial community look to Mary as a model of evangelization. 

We implore her maternal intercession that the Church may become a home for many peoples, a mother for all peoples, and that the way may be opened to the birth of a new world.

New letter in English from a Tanzanian inmate in a Hong Kong prison commenting on South China Morning Post article (see Tanzania File, below) re Tz inmate in HK claiming to have been threatened by Tz  ambassador to China ....for writing letters for this website         

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's Hong Kong file
(encouraging local drug addicts to come off drugs)

Jesus, please give Pope Francis extra energy, courage and wisdom for these days of the Synod of the Family ....
and please soften the hearts of the cardinals opposed to Francis!

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Friday,  please bless the people of South America

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:

On this 10th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hubei

My photos of democracy demonstrations 
- Mong Kok, Admiralty, Causeway Bay, TST, with photos of PLA armoured vehicles in Jordan

CY denies wrongdoing in Australian deal

Hong Kong chief's secret deal
Hong Kong's embattled chief executive, CY Leung, has pocketed millions in secret fees from a listed Australian company in return for supporting its Asian business ambitions, a Fairfax Media investigation can reveal

This excellent analysis of the HK situation Protests fade in Hong Kong as demonstrators take stock is slightly spoiled by a misleading sub headline:

 "As much of Hong Kong returns to work..." - which implies many/most people have not returned to work....or many/most people stopped work - both of which are totally wrong

Oct 7 letter from HK University dean to democracy students

Married couples are stealing the show at synod

Esther 7: 

And it got even worse for Haman. At the second banquet, Esther told the king that she was Jewish and that Haman planned to kill all Jews.

The result: Haman was hanged on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the Jews were not only spared annihilation - they were given places of honor in the kingdom.

The Jews praised God for all his help through Mordecai.

Dear God, please rescue people who are in great danger

Recording of this reading
for English students

Psalms 42-45:

Like a deer that longs for running streams, so my soul is longing for you, my God.

My soul is thirsting for you, the God of my life. I think of you all the time, here in my land of exile.

People make fun of us here in exile. They  taunt us saying "Where is your God?"

Yet no matter what happens we will hope in you, for you are our saviour and our God.

No matter where we are or what happens to us, our hearts will long for  you, like a bride longing for her groom.

Lord, no matter what happens, may I always hope in you

Recording

Acts 20:

Paul continued "Now you see me a prisoner already in spirit. I am on my way to Jerusalem, and have no idea what will happen to me there.
The Holy Spirit has made it clear that imprisonment and persecution await me there

But life to me is not a thing to waste words on. What matters is that when I finish my race, I have carried out the mission the Lord Jesus gave me - to bear witness to the Good News of God's grace"

Jesus, please help me live a worthwhile life

Recording

Paul saying goodbye at Ephesus

Mark 3:

Jesus went again to the Sea of Galilee. Great crowds of people from all over the country went to him. They had heard what he was doing and wanted to see him.

Large crowds of sick people pushed forward, trying to touch Jesus. They had heard how he had healed so many sick people.

Jesus, please heal my friend (..name..) who is sick

Recording

Jesus near the sea healing the sick 

Australian couple tells pope and cardinals how great sex life kept them together
"Several of the bishops complained that the Vatican’s own teachings on sexual matters were often impenetrable to ordinary people"

288. There is a Marian “style” to the Church’s work of evangelization.

 Whenever we look to Mary, we come to believe once again in the revolutionary nature of love and tenderness.

 In her we see that humility and tenderness are not virtues of the weak but of the strong who need not treat others poorly in order to feel important themselves.

 Contemplating Mary, we realize that she who praised God for “bringing down the mighty from their thrones” and “sending the rich away empty” (Lk 1:52 -53) is also the one who brings a homely warmth to our pursuit of justice. 

She is also the one who carefully keeps “all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19 ). Mary is able to recognize the traces of God’s Spirit in events great and small. She constantly contemplates the mystery of God in our world, in human history and in our daily lives.

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's Hong Kong file
(encouraging local drug addicts to come off drugs)

O Holy Spirit

  please bless the Synod on the Family!

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Thursday,  please bless the people of S.E. Asia & Pacific

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:

On this 9th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Henan

'Hopesick' for Hong Kong 

As the Hong Kong protests recede, I hope that this is not the end for the movement formally known as Occupy Central with Love and Peace and the push towards legitimate freedom.    

HK Pressure Abates

Local papers quoted residents receiving What’s App messages offering HK$500 to harass the student protesters. This carries all the hallmarks of “underground front” activation by the China Liaison Office

Amnesty is asking for people to sign a petition today to help save a woman from execution in Iran tomorrow. I have signed the petition 

Esther 6: 

On the night between the two banquets, the king could not sleep.
To induce sleep he started reading the history of his kingdom.

He read how some years ago two of his eunuchs planned to assassinate him, but the plot was foiled by Mordecai.

The king asked Haman how to honor a man whom the king wished to honor.

Haman thought the king was talking about himself, Haman, so
he suggested royal clothes, a royal horse and a royal parade.

The king agreed and told Haman to honor Mordecai in this way.
This was a great humiliation for Haman.

Dear God, please give more wisdom to all leaders

Psalm 41:

Blessed the person who helps the poor and the weak. He himself will be helped by the Lord when he is sick and in trouble.

The Lord will help him on his bed of pain. The Lord will bring him back from sickness to health.

Lord, please help me to do more for the poor

Recording

Today's Gospel

Acts 20:

Paul's journey took him to Meletus where he met the elders of the church from Ephesus. He said to them

"You know what my way of life has been from the first day I arrived among you. I have served the Lord in all humility, facing all the sorrows and trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews

I have not hesitated to do anything that would be helpful to you. I have preached to you and instructed you, both in public and in your homes, urging everyone to believe in our Lord Jesus"

Jesus, please help me be a bit more like Saint Paul

Recording

Mark 3:

Jesus again went to a prayer hall on the Sabbath. In the hall was a man with a withered hand.

The religious leaders were watching Jesus to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, hoping for something to use against him.

Jesus said to the man with the withered hand "Stand in the middle of the hall".  Then he said to the religious leaders "Is it against the law on the Sabbath to do good?"

They remained silent. Grieved that they were so obstinate, Jesus looked angrily round at them, and said to the man "Stretch out your hand".

He stretched it out, and it was healed. The leaders left and began to plot how to get rid of Jesus.

Jesus, please don't let my heart become obstinate

Recording

One of the central issues for discussion at the Synod which opened in Rome last Sunday will focus on the sharing of the Eucharist with those whose marriage has failed and who have chosen to start again in a second relationship.

Peter 
Wilkinson

This article is intimately related to what is happening in Rome.  There, Francis is asking the bishops present what they think about the challenges facing families in the countries/churches where they come from; but many of these bishops have never established a dialogue with families whose pastoral care is in their hands.  The bishop representing the Church in Australia is from a diocese which does not have a diocesan pastoral council and has not had a diocesan synod since 1916.
Sadly, the evidence shows that Vatican II’s bold and creative vision for co-responsibility has not flourished in Australia and is more like a pipedream. Nevertheless, with Pope Francis now re-emphasising the vision, perhaps it may yet become a reality

160,000 fake govt staff kicked out
The mainland has taken 160,000 "phantom" government staff off its official payroll who were receiving salaries despite not doing any work, state-media reported.

287. Along this journey of evangelization we will have our moments of aridity, darkness and even fatigue.  Mary herself experienced these things during the years of Jesus’ childhood in Nazareth : 

“This is the beginning of the Gospel, the joyful good news. However, it is not difficult to see in that beginning a particular heaviness of heart, linked with a sort of night of faith – to use the words of Saint John of the Cross – a kind of ‘veil’ through which one has to draw near to the Invisible One and to live in intimacy with the mystery.

 And this is the way that Mary, for many years, lived in intimacy with the mystery of her Son, and went forward in her pilgrimage of faith”.

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's Hong Kong file
(encouraging local drug addicts to come off drugs)

Synod on the Family - at the Vatican:

Come, Holy Spirit!

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Wednesday,  please bless the people of East Asia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:

On this 8th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Heilongjiang

Pope Francis:
Thank you Holy Spirit

Inspiring photos:

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