My Islam File       

The New Translation

Pope's plea for peace in global 'atmosphere of war' during Bosnia visit

While there are those who foment war and profit from it by selling weapons, there are those who hear Jesus' words, "Blessed are the peacemakers."

"He does not say, 'Blessed are the preachers of peace,' since everyone is capable of proclaiming peace, even in a hypocritical or indeed, duplicitous manner. No. He says, 'Blessed are the peacemakers,' that is, those who make peace."

Click this image for three "same-sex marriage" stories:

From "Timeless: Marriage & Public Policy"

----

From today, at left, a file of comments/articles re "ssm" that have appeared on this website

Born on this day in 1836: 
Dr Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

- English physician and feminist, the first Englishwoman to qualify as a physician and surgeon in Britain, the co-founder of the first hospital staffed by women, the first dean of a British medical school, the first female M.D. in France, the first woman in Britain to be elected to a school board and, as Mayor of Aldeburgh, the first female mayor and magistrate in Britain

Genesis 35-36

God said to Jacob "Go to Bethel and live there." So Jacob moved to the area of Bethel.

Not long after this, Rachel conceived another baby.

But Rachel died in childbirth. Jacob named the baby boy Benjamin.

In all, Jacob had 12 sons:
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun
 - their mother being Leah;
Joseph and Benjamin
- their mother being Rachel;
Dan and Naphtali
- their mother being Bilhah;
Gad and Asher
- their mother being Zilpah.

Jacob and his family stayed in the land of Canaan, the land of his father Isaac.

Esau and his family moved to the land of Edom.

Dear God, please bless and protect my brothers and sisters

Psalm 3

When people make fun of me for believing in you, Lord, I deeply remember how you are my help and my shield.

Even when the whole world seems against me, I can go to bed and sleep easy, knowing that you protect me.

O Lord, please rescue me from people who plot against me. Lord our savior, please bless everyone who needs help.

Lord, thank you for your protection and help

Recording

Hebrews 13.8-21

Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be for ever

Do not let yourselves be led astray by strange doctrines that teach a different Jesus

Jesus died outside the city. Let us go to him and share his rejection

Our life in this world is a temporary arrangement, like a tent. We look for a permanent home in the life to come

Keep doing good works and sharing your resources

God of peace, you brought Jesus back from the dead to be our great Shepherd and Priest. Make me ready to do your will in any kind of good action

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

 Matthew 6.16-24

Jesus said to the crowds:

When you do a bit of fasting, don't run round telling the world what you are doing. Secret fasting is spiritually powerful.

Your most  important account  is with the Bank of Heaven. Build up your deposit with lots of good deeds and prayers.

Physical blindness is a great tragedy. Greater still is spiritual blindness.

God must be number one in your life. Don't let money or anything else replace God.

Jesus, please be Number One in my life

Recording

 Official use of English being 'neglected' by Hong Kong government

Sino-Tanzania ties, now 50, should be nurtured

Homily to Catalonia:  the nun entering Spain's regional politics
She was loath to trade in the solitude of the monastery for a demanding career in politics. It was her religious community that ultimately proposed a solution, offering her the chance to take a sabbatical of up to three years, the kind given to nuns to allow them to look after a sick parent. “I said, yes, but my mother is not sick,” said Forcades. “They said but society is sick so you can go and take care of it.”

Pope  Francis:  Full text     
The Joy of the Gospel 

15. We cannot forget that evangelization is first and foremost about preaching the Gospel to those who do not know Jesus Christ or who have rejected him. Many of them are quietly seeking God, led by a yearning to see his face, even in countries of ancient Christian tradition. All of them have a right to receive the Gospel. Christians have the duty to proclaim the Gospel without excluding anyone. Instead of seeming to impose new obligations, Christians should be people who wish to share their joy, who point to a horizon of beauty and who invite others to a delicious banquet. We “should not passively wait in our church buildings”; we need to move “from a pastoral ministry of mere conservation, to a decidedly missionary pastoral ministry”.

10 years ago today

2005-06-09 Visit to Xinqiao Primary School by HK friends ....+ Ko Family's second hand shop

From a reader in Australia:
A foreign missionary arrived in a new country to take over a parish. One day, he needed to go to another parish and so he had to drive on the freeway. As he was driving, his superior called him on his hands-free phone and told him to be careful on the freeway, because he was watching the live news and there was a crazy driver who was going down the wrong way. The missionary priest replied: "there's not just one crazy driver, it seems all the cars are going the wrong way!"

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

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 9th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Central African Republic

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify Boko Haram 

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 HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

My Islam File     

The New Translation

Pope in Sarajevo urges youth to build a more just society

As he did earlier in the afternoon with priests and religious in Sarajevo Cathedral, the Pope set aside his prepared text and responded to questions posed by the young people about how they should try and live their faith in contemporary society.

He urged them, as the first post-war generation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, to act with honesty and integrity, building bridges between people and helping to promote a culture of peace.   

Recommended by a reader in Australia:
Pompeii - Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius

Animation made for Melbourne Museum which recreates the eruption of Mt Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii in southern Italy on 24 August 79 A.D. 

Wikipedia: Pompeii

The crazier our world becomes, the more we need to give time to prayer. Pope Francis is asking us to pray more for world peace, for the safety of Christians, for the protection of Christian values which are under attack.
So ....if any HK friends would like to join me for my next special prayer trip to the Trappist Monastery on Lantau Island....DV it will be this Wednesday, June 10. 
Meet at Discovery Bay Pier, Central, at 10.30am, to take 10.40 ferry to DB. Then we'll walk for one hour from DB to the monastery. Bring some sandwiches etc to have at monastery. After 2pm prayer by monks in chapel, we'll walk back to DB.  Bring spare shirt, and umbrella for hot weather/rain!  If weather is very uncertain, please phone me - 67095674 -  after 8am on Wed June 10.

Genesis 33-34

When Esau and Jacob met, Esau was friendly and kind to Jacob.

Esau accepted all the gifts of animals that Jacob gave him. But Jacob continued to be wary of Esau.

Jacob moved to Shechem.

One of the men of Shechem raped
and then wanted to marry Jacob's daughter, Dinah.

Jacob and his sons craftily said they would agree to the marriage
if all of the men of Shechem were circumcised.

The men agreed. But on the third day, while the Shechem men were still in a lot of pain, Jacob's sons Simeon and Levi took matters into their own hands.

They killed all the Shechem men,
because their sister Dinah had been raped. Jacob did not approve of the killings 

Dear God, please help women who have been raped

My recording of this reading

Psalm 2

Why are the nations revolting against God?

Why won't the nations accept God?

O kings and rulers of the nations, listen to God's voice. 

Serve the Lord with love and honor.

Blessed are the nations that love the Lord

Let all the nations love you, Lord. Let all the nations love you

Recording

Hebrews 12.18 - 13.6

Your ancestors were at Mount Sinai when God spoke to Moses

But you already have one foot in the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, where millions of angels gather in praise

So, continue to live a life of love and hospitality.

Keep in mind those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them

Keep your marriage undefiled

Avoid greed. Be content with what you have

Jesus, help me remember heaven....and people in prison

Recording

Matthew 6.1-15

Jesus said to the crowds:

When you do a good deed, do it for its own sake, not just to get people to praise you.

When you pray, love to pray in private in your heart. Don't be looking for people to notice and praise you.

When you pray, there's no need to rave on and on. God is not deaf. Prayer is not a lawyer arguing a case. Prayer is a child speaking with simple trust like this:

Our Father in heaven, may everyone love and honor you.

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as in heaven.

Thank you for enough food for today. 

Forgive us as we forgive others.

Save us in time of trial. Protect us from evil

Jesus,  help me remember that each time I pray "The Our Father", you are praying with me. "Your Father = my Father = our Father"

Recording

The Beatitudes are Central

Enjoy meditating on the Beatitudes today!

Getting China to Play by the Rules

There’s no unseen American hand at work here. It is precisely China’s relentless pursuit of hegemony that has driven other countries together. It is precisely China that can ease the tension by stating reasonable aims. Until it does so, others must prudently assume the worst.

Just before the Shangri-La meeting, Taiwan’s president, Ma Ying-jeou, floated a proposal. Taiwan is a player. It has controlled Itu Aba, the largest of the Spratlys, since 1956. “While sovereignty cannot be divided, resources can be shared,” Ma said, illustrating his point by referring to an arrangement that has enabled Taiwanese and Japanese to fish without friction in the territorial sea generated by the Senkaku/Diaoyutai Islands. At this tense juncture, Ma’s proposal merits more consideration than it is likely to get.

Pope  Francis:  Full text     
The Joy of the Gospel 

13. The joy of evangelizing always arises from grateful remembrance: the apostles never forgot the moment when Jesus touched their hearts: “It was about four o’clock in the afternoon”. Together with Jesus, this remembrance makes present to us “a great cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1), some of whom, as believers, we recall with great joy: “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God” (Heb 13:7). Some of them were ordinary people who were close to us and introduced us to the life of faith: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice” (2 Tim 1:5). The believer is essentially “one who remembers”

10 years ago today

2005-06-08 Guangdong University of Finance students at Ricci Centre....+ Kathleen & Mr Ku

One Sunday afternoon, the Pastor's wife dropped into an easy chair saying, "Boy! Am I ever tried." Her husband looked over at her & said, "I had to conduct two special services last night, three today, & give a total of five sermons. Why are you so tired ?" "Dearest," she replied, "I had to listen to all of them."

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

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 8th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Sierra Leone

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify ISIS 

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 HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

My Islam File     

The New Translation

Today is the Feast of 
The Body and Blood of Christ

"The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak" - Pope Francis
(The Joy of the Gospel, no. 47)

In early 2012, I asked the late Brian Lewis, one of Australia's most eminent moral theologians, for his thoughts about "same-sex marriage".  His reply email said:

"Dear John, I spent a lot of time last year stewing about the gay marriage issue. The result of this was my article in Compass, last year. You are very welcome to use this"

Here is Brian's 2012 article:
The movement for same-sex marriage

Last week during breakfast each day I watched this excellent video by Bishop T. D. Jakes:

Trusting God when He says NO
- how and why to keep going when life is difficult

c.f. Readings for Corpus Christi

Exodus 24

Moses built an altar. Then he directed certain young Israelites to offer holocausts and to immolate bullocks to the Lord as communion sacrifices. 

Half of the blood Moses took up and put into basins, the other half he cast on the altar. And taking the Book of the Covenant he read it to the listening people.

Then Moses took the blood and cast it towards the people. This’ he said ‘is the blood of the Covenant that the Lord has made with you, containing all these rules.’

Jesus, protect us by your Blood

My recording of this reading

Psalm 116

I love the Lord for he has heard the cry of my appeal. He turned his ear to me in the day when I called him.

They surrounded me, sorrow, distress and the snares of death.
I was helpless, so the Lord saved me.

Calm down my soul, for the Lord has been good. I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me? The cup of salvation I will raise to thank the Lord.

O precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful. Lord, you have loosened my bonds. I am your servant.

Jesus, thank you for the Cup of Salvation that is your Eucharistic Blood

Recording

Hebrews 8-9

Jesus' priesthood is part of the new covenant predicted in the Scriptures:

"See, the days are coming - it is the Lord who speaks - when I will establish a new covenant with the House of Israel"

Jesus has come as High Priest of all the blessings that were predicted would be part of the new covenant

He has offered not the blood of animals like priests of the old covenant, but his own blood, by which he won our redemption

His blood can purify our inner self from dead actions, to help us in our life of dedication to the living God

Jesus, by your precious blood, purify my heart and protect me

Recording

Mark 14.17-25

On Passover Eve, Jesus ate a last meal with his apostles.

While they were eating, Jesus told them he knew he would be betrayed by one of them. He told Judas he knew he was the betrayer.

Then Jesus took some bread, blessed it and gave it to his apostles saying " This is my body"

Then he took a cup of wine, blessed it and gave it to them saying "This is my blood"

Jesus, please help me understand how bread and wine become your body and blood when Christians celebrate the Eucharist

Recording

 Pope arrives in Sarajevo with goal of building postwar reconciliation

Pope Francis in Sarajevo as ‘pilgrim of peace and dialogue’

Tanzania: Crash kills priest, six students, injures 26 others

South Africa: Oblate funeral held in boxing arena

Pope  Francis:  Full text     
The Joy of the Gospel 

47. The Church is called to be the house of the Father, with doors always wide open.

One concrete sign of such openness is that our church doors should always be open, so that if someone, moved by the Spirit, comes there looking for God, he or she will not find a closed door.

There are other doors that should not be closed either. Everyone can share in some way in the life of the Church; everyone can be part of the community, nor should the doors of the sacraments be closed for simply any reason.

This is especially true of the sacrament which is itself “the door”: baptism. And the Eucharist, although it is the fullness of sacramental life, is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.

These convictions have pastoral consequences that we are called to consider with prudence and boldness. Frequently, we act as arbiters of grace rather than its facilitators. But the Church is not a tollhouse; it is the house of the Father, where there is a place for everyone, with all their problems.

90th Anniversary today

Matt Talbot died on this day in 1925 in Ireland.
“Never be too hard on the man who can’t give up drink. It’s as hard to give up the drink as it is to raise the dead to life again. But both are possible and even easy for Our Lord. We have only to depend on him.”

10 years ago
 today

2005-06-07 Fireman visiting Ricci Centre......and CAS teachers' families at nightly gathering

2005-06-06 Toys to Cheungkwai, Ng Chuen and Xinqiao schools - thank you Olivier & Rosa C

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 7th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hebei

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 7th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Burkina Faso

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please bless all Muslims in my own country 

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 HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

My Islam File      

The New Translation

Martini's grave, Hangzhou

Today is the anniversary (6.6.1661!) of Martino Martini, Italian Jesuit, cartographer and    historian who followed in the steps of Matteo Ricci in China. 

 He is acclaimed as the father of Chinese geographical science
    

"Same-sex marriage" -  Letter of Bishop Greg O'Kelly S.J.  (Port Pirie)

"We need to look at the global picture. There is no movement for gay marriage in Islamic, Buddhist or Hindu societies, in Africa, in Asia or the Middle East. 

But in Western society the various pillars we have placed around the sacredness of life have been gradually weakened by our erosion of the sense of the sacred. Easy divorce, abortion, euthanasia, and now a radical reinterpretation of what marriage is have all in their own way in the West weakened our hold on the sacredness of life. 

The voice of the Church moreover has been weakened seriously and understandably by the various scandals that have beset us in recent times.

What cannot be defended is the deliberate use of surrogacy or some other intervention in order to prevent the presence of a natural father or mother in the family of the child. I can see a generation in the future describing itself as something like another stolen generation."

Genesis 32

As Jacob returned to his own land of Canaan, he feared that his brother Esau would  try to kill him.

So Jacob, always clever and wily, 
sent messengers ahead of him
to make friends with Esau.

The messengers reported that Esau was on his way to meet Jacob and had 400 men with him.

This news increased Jacob's fears, so he divided his family and flocks into two groups, thinking that if Esau attacked one group, then the other group could escape.

Jacob also prayed hard to God for protection.

Jacob sent gifts of animals to Esau, hoping that Esau would be friendly to him.

On the night before Jacob and Esau met, God appeared to Jacob
and gave him a new name: Israel.

Dear God, please help me to be kind and clever

My recording of this reading

Psalm 1

Happy the person who avoids evil and evil entertainment.

Happy the person who reads and meditates on God's words.

Such a person is like a tree planted beside a river, getting plenty of nourishment, bearing plenty of fruit.

Such a person is on the Way of Life. 

People who do evil, are on the Way of Death.

Dear Lord, please help me do good and avoid evil

Recording

Hebrews 11.1 - 12.15

Only faith can keep us going. Only faith kept Abraham going. Only faith gave perseverance to famous people in the Scriptures

So many of them were weak people who were given strength by God, to be brave when life became difficult

With so many witnesses in a great cloud all around us, we too should keep running in the race we have started. We should get rid of  everything that slows us down

Keep focusing on Jesus. He is running beside us. His example going to the cross gives us courage

Try to live at peace with everyone. Don't let any seed of bitterness begin to grown and make trouble. This can poison a whole community

Jesus, help me remember your presence in my heart

Recording

"Marathon Jesus" - story here

Matthew 5.13-48

Jesus said to the crowds:

You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, it's no use for anything.

You are the light of the world. Let the world see your light, your good deeds.

When people see you doing good deeds, people will praise God.

I have not come to abolish the Jewish religion. I have come to raise it to a higher level of goodness.

Your goodness must not just be something superficial. Your goodness must be something from the heart.

You must avoid anger and insult, just like you avoid murder. If you have offended someone, say "Sorry".

You must avoid lustful looks and thoughts. Looking at someone lustfully is immorality of the heart.

Love and pray for people who are unkind to you. This is the way to practise the highest level of goodness.

Jesus,  please help me practise a higher level of goodness

Recording

 Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2015 
Time: 19:00 – 21:00
Place: Dante Alighieri Society

 I plan to attend and I hope 
some HK readers can join me.

Nigeria’s favourite satirist goes global after ambushing Robert Mugabe

Sudan briefing - Darfur's deep descent into chaos

Recommended by 
a reader in Australia

Guardian analysis:
Vatican in middle of war of words between Cardinal Pell and abuse survivor

Australian Catholics humiliated by the sins of the Fathers

Pope  Francis:  Full text     
The Joy of the Gospel 

12. Though it is true that this mission demands great generosity on our part, it would be wrong to see it as a heroic individual undertaking, for it is first and foremost the Lord’s work, surpassing anything which we can see and understand. Jesus is “the first and greatest evangelizer”. In every activity of evangelization, the primacy always belongs to God, who has called us to cooperate with him and who leads us on by by the power of his Spirit. This conviction enables us to maintain a spirit of joy in the midst of a task so demanding and challenging that it engages our entire life.

10 years ago
 on this day

(5 !!!!! Martini, Ricci, O'Kelly, UK Jesuits, and ....one more ...he wears white!)

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 6th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hainan

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 6th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Liberia

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify the Taliban

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 HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

My Islam File    

The New Translation

Pope to Sarajevo tomorrow

John Allen:

To understand Pope's priorities, just ask his travel agent

Francis seems to be using his trips to deliver a simple message:
Peace is possible – and if you don’t believe it, look where I’m standing

"Same-sex marriage" - for some people, part of anti-Christian agenda?

"Bill Shorten's proposed change to marriage seems of a piece with the late Justice Lionel Murphy's resolution to replace the Judeo-Christian value-basis of law in Australia with secular humanism, a project which drew stern repudiation and very strong words about Labor's betrayal of its roots from no less a Labor stalwart than Mr Kim Beazley Snr"
- comment by John Kelly, June 1, at this pro "same-sex marriage" article

About 1975 I was on a train from Sydney to Melbourne, and in the buffet car I shared a breakfast table with the late Kevin Stewart, a prominent NSW politician, whose brother Frank was a federal politician.  

In talking about Lionel Murphy's aims (above) I was stunned by Kevin's chilling words which I have never forgotten: "Murphy is an evil man"

Genesis 31

Jacob said to Rachel and Leah "You know how hard I have worked for your father, yet he has treated me unfairly - ten times he changed my wages. Now God has told me to go back to my own land. So, get ready, we are going."

Jacob took his wives, children and livestock and left  - without telling Laban.

Only after three days did Laban find out that Jacob had outsmarted him.

Laban chased Jacob, but God told Laban not to hurt Jacob.

So Laban made a treaty with Jacob and let him go on his way.

Dear God, please help us to treat everyone fairly

My recording of this reading

Psalms  149, 150

Sing a new song to the Lord. Let the praise of God be always on our lips.

Praise God in his holy temple.
Praise him in the heavens.

O praise him with sound of trumpet. Praise him with lute and harp.

Praise him with drums and dancing. Praise him with strings and pipes.

Let everything that lives and breathes, give praise to the Lord our Creator.  Alleluia!

Lord to you we say every day "Allelu-ia" ("praise God")

Recording

Hebrews 10.32-39

Remember all the suffering you experienced after you became  Christians - the insults and violence, the loss of your possessions

Don't give up now. Keep going in your Christian life.

You and I are not the sort of people who give up.

We are the sort of people who stay faithful until our souls are saved

Jesus, help me keep going, despite difficulties

Recording

Today's Gospel:

Matthew 5.1-12

Jesus said to the crowds:

Blessed are poor and simple of heart  people. They belong to the kingdom of heaven .

Blessed are people who are going through great sorrow. Their hearts will be filled with peace.

Blessed are people who lead just and honest lives. They will see the victory of goodness.

Blessed are people who show mercy to others. God will be merciful to them.

Blessed are people who have a clean heart. They will see God.

Blessed are people who are peacemakers. They are God's children.

Blessed are people who are persecuted for the cause of right.
They will receive a great reward in heaven.

Jesus, please help me be merciful and kind and just

Recording

Recommended by 
a reader in Australia

A Video That Should Worry Every Christian When It Comes to ISIS 
Sister Hatune Dogan has been on the ground and witnessed the devastation of ancient Christian communities

South African website: (scroll down for contents)
Locked  Up in a foreign country  
This is not another "don't do drugs" website. Rather, it is intended to give you a glimpse into the darker side of the drug business.

Nineteen members of Italian mafia drug ring arrested in Canada

Should be beatified? 
He died for the sake of justice

Pope  Francis:  Full text     
The Joy of the Gospel 

11. Saint Irenaeus writes: “By his coming, Christ brought with him all newness”. With this newness he is always able to renew our lives and our communities, and even if the Christian message has known periods of darkness and ecclesial weakness, it will never grow old. Jesus can also break through the dull categories with which we would enclose him and he constantly amazes us by his divine creativity. Whenever we make the effort to return to the source and to recover the original freshness of the Gospel, new avenues arise, new paths of creativity open up, with different forms of expression, more eloquent signs and words with new meaning for today’s world. Every form of authentic evangelization is always “new”.

This website's statistics for May, 2015.  God bless all dear readers. May this site do a little bit of good to help the poor and to help preserve the values of Jesus in our world

A pastor was giving the children's message during church. For this part of the service, he would gather all the children around him and give a brief lesson before dismissing them for children's church. On this particular Sunday, he was using squirrels for an object lesson on industry and preparation. He started out by saying, "I'm going to describe something, and I want you to raise your hand when you know what it is." The children nodded eagerly. "This thing lives in trees (pause) and eats nuts (pause)..." No hands went up. "And it is gray (pause) and has a long bushy tail (pause)..." The children were looking at each other, but still no hands raised. "And it jumps from branch to branch (pause) and chatters and flips its tail when it's excited (pause)..." Finally one little boy tentatively raised his hand. The pastor breathed a sigh of relief and called on him. "Well...," said the boy, "I *know* the answer must be Jesus... but is sure sounds like a squirrel to me!"

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 5th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Guizhou

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 5th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Chad

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, on this Muslim day of prayer, please bless all Muslims!

HK: two arrested 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 HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

My Islam File     

The New Translation

The crazier our world becomes, the more we need to give time to prayer. Pope Francis is asking us to pray more for world peace, for the safety of Christians, for the protection of Christian values which are under attack.

So ....if any HK friends would like to join me for my next special prayer trip to the Trappist Monastery on Lantau Island....DV it will be next Wednesday, June 10. 

Meet at Discovery Bay Pier, Central, at 10.30am, to take 10.40 ferry to DB. Then we'll walk for one hour from DB to the monastery. Bring some sandwiches etc to have at monastery. After 2pm prayer by monks in chapel, we'll walk back to DB.  Bring spare shirt, and umbrella for hot weather/rain!  If weather is very uncertain, please phone me - 67095674 -  after 8am on Wed June 10.

For images of and info re the monastery, Google "Hong Kong Trappist Monastery"

 "Same-sex marriage"

As the Australian parliament considers the legalisation of "same-sex marriage", I wonder why the Australian bishops' excellent letter Don't mess with marriage is receiving virtually zero treatment in mainstream Australian media? (stop press: one very negative article, by an "education writer" (?) who uses the term "Mr Hart")

And correct me if I'm wrong, but why hasn't the letter received any mention in the Catholic sites Eureka Street and UCANews, both of which often have articles supporting "same-sex marriage"? 

Genesis 30

Leah gave birth to four sons  - Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah.

Rachel had no children and was jealous of her sister Leah.

Rachel gave her servant girl  Bilhah to Jacob, and Bilhah gave birth to two sons - Dan and Naphtali.

Leah then gave her servant girl Zilpah to Jacob, and Zilpah gave birth to two sons - Gad and Asher.

Leah herself had two more sons - Issachar and Zebulun and a daughter - Dinah.

Finally Rachel had a baby, a son whom she named Joseph.

For many long years Jacob worked for Laban, but Laban would not let Jacob return to his own land.

 Dear God, please bless everyone in my family

My recording of this reading

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord from the heavens,
praise him in the heights. Praise him all his angels, praise him all his spirits. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, shining stars.

Let them praise the name of the Lord. His word gave life to all of them.

Praise the Lord from the earth, sea creatures and all oceans.

Praise him fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy winds that obey his word.

Praise him all mountains and hills,
all fruit trees and cedars. Praise him all animals, wild and tame,
reptiles and birds in the air.

Praise him all earth's kings and peoples, earth's princes and rulers.

Praise him young men and maidens, old people together with children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord. He is the praise of all who love him.

Lord our God and Creator, you are worthy of all praise

Recording 

Hebrews 10.21-25

Jesus is the supreme High Priest of the whole house of God.

As we enter that house, let us have sincere hearts that are filled with faith and hope

Let us be concerned for each other, encouraging each other to do good

Do not stay away from the meetings as some people do, but encourage each other to attend

Jesus, may my life encourage others to do good

Recording

Today's Gospel:

Matthew 4.12-25

After his time in the desert,
Jesus began preaching the same message as John the Baptist:
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand".

Jesus called four fishermen to become "fishers of men": Peter and his brother Andrew, James and his brother John. They left their boats and went with Jesus.

Jesus went all round the area of Galilee, preaching in local prayer halls, and healing all kinds of sick people

News spread about the sick being healed, and soon even people from distant places came to Jesus to be healed.

Jesus, please heal the people I know who are sick: (...names...) 

Recording

Remembering June 4, 1989  (John W)

 A new website 

The Australian Marriage Forum (AMF) is an organisation that has been set up to encourage Australians to discuss the issue of same-sex marriage with discernment and caution

On the shores of Lake Malawi, activists raise uranium fears
When dead fish were washed ashore in northern Malawi, activists and residents looked to a nearby uranium mine for answers – the latest battle in a protracted conflict with Paladin, the mine’s Australian owners
(my January photos of Lake Malawi)

Pope  Francis:  Full text     
The Joy of the Gospel 

10. The Gospel offers us the chance to live life on a higher plane: “Life grows by being given away, and it weakens in isolation and comfort. Indeed, those who enjoy life most are those who leave security on the shore and become excited by the mission of communicating life to others”.
Consequently, an evangelizer must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral! Let us recover and deepen our enthusiasm, that “delightful and comforting joy of evangelizing, even when it is in tears that we must sow… And may the world of our time, which is searching, sometimes with anguish, sometimes with hope, be enabled to receive the good news not from evangelizers who are dejected, discouraged, impatient or anxious, but from ministers of the Gospel whose lives glow with fervour, who have first received the joy of Christ”.

10 years ago today

2005-06-04 Visit to Ricci & Marco Polo Centres by HK Scout Group + Alexis, Gary & local friends

 Last Tuesday I paid my monthly visit to HK's main Immigration Detention Centre, and then my monthly visit to the nearby Tai Lam Women's Correctional Institution .....with a quick swim at Cafe Beach in between the two visits. Two African inmates at Tai Lam are suffering from a common problem among foreign inmates in HK's prisons: they are rapidly putting on weight as they enjoy the best prison meals in the world. I suggested they change from "Western" to "Chinese" menu ... much healthier! 

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 4th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Guangdong

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 4th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Mozambique

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify Al-Qaeda

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 HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

My Islam File     

The New Translation

Feast today of the African martyrs Charles Lwanga & Companions

"The ire of the king was particularly inflamed against the Christians because they refused to accede to demands to participate in sexual acts with him. Charles Lwanga, in particular, had protected the pages from King Mwanga's sexual advance"

Like John the Baptist, Charles and companions died for the Biblical teaching on sexuality -  something to think about as governments try to legalise "same-sex marriage"

Genesis 29

Jacob went to the home of his uncle Laban, in Haran.

Laban had two daughters, Leah and Rachel. Jacob fell in love with Rachel.

Jacob made an agreement with Laban: Jacob would work for Laban for seven years in return for marriage to Rachel.

For Jacob,  the seven years went like a flash, because he loved Rachel so dearly.

But Laban forced Jacob to marry both Leah and Rachel, and made him work for another seven years as well.

Dear God, please help us to enjoy our work

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord for he is good.
Sing to our God for he is loving. To him our praise is due.

The Lord builds up Jerusalem
and brings back Israel's exiles.

He heals the broken-hearted, and binds up all their wounds. The Lord raises the lowly, and humbles the wicked.

He fixes the number of the stars.
He calls each one by name.

Our Lord is great and almighty.
His wisdom can never be measured.

He covers the heavens with clouds. He prepares rain for the earth, making mountains sprout with grass and with plants to serve our needs.

His delight is not in horses, nor his pleasure in warriors' strength. The Lord delights in those who love and honor him, in those who wait for his love.

It is right and fitting to praise and love you, Lord our Creator

Recording

Hebrews 8.9 - 9.14

Jesus' priesthood is part of the new covenant predicted in the Scriptures:

"See, the days are coming - it is the Lord who speaks - when I will establish a new covenant with the House of Israel"

Jesus has come as High Priest of all the blessings that were predicted would be part of the new covenant.

He has offered not the blood of animals like priests of the old covenant, but his own blood, by which he won our redemption

His blood can purify our inner self from dead actions, to help us in our life of dedication to the living God

Jesus, by your precious blood, purify my heart and protect me

Recording

Song based on today's Gospel:
Jesus fasting in the desert

Matthew 4.1-11

After he was baptized, Jesus spent about 40 days praying and fasting in the desert. During this time, he was tempted by Satan.

"If you are the Son of God, change some stones into bread" said Satan.

Jesus replied "Human life needs more than bread. Life needs God's message".

Satan then  took Jesus to a high place and said "Throw yourself down, since the angels will protect you".

Jesus replied "Presumption is a sin".

Then Satan took Jesus to a high mountain and showed him all the nations of the world.

"Worship me and I will give you all these nations" said Satan.

Jesus replied "Go away, Satan! Only God is to be worshipped".

The devil then went away.

Jesus, please protect us from Satan and from evil

Recording

Chris McDonnell (Wed UK blogger) 

When the people speak
The Referendum vote in Ireland is a watershed in so many ways. The result, 62-38 in favour of gay marriage, has changed not only the Irish politico-religious context but will also have ramifications far beyond that small island nation bordering the eastern Atlantic Ocean

John Allen

Recommended by a reader in Australia

George Weigel:
Why Hasn’t Francis Ford Been Beatified?
(Please God someday he will be beatified. But, as George indicates at the end of this article, beatifying him now might do more harm than good for the Church in China)

Pope  Francis:  Full text     
The Joy of the Gospel 

9. Goodness always tends to spread. Every authentic experience of truth and goodness seeks by its very nature to grow within us, and any person who has experienced a profound liberation becomes more sensitive to the needs of others. As it expands, goodness takes root and develops. If we wish to lead a dignified and fulfilling life, we have to reach out to others and seek their good. “The love of Christ urges us on” (2 Cor 5:14); “Woe to me if I do not proclaim the Gospel” (1 Cor 9:16).

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 3rd of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Gansu

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 3rd of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Burundi

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify Al-Shabaab 

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 HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

My Islam File       

The New Translation

    "Same-sex marriage"

On the menu of May 30 and May 31 (below) I lamented the fact that so many Catholic websites are supporting "same-sex marriage". To the list of sites can be added Eureka Street (Australia). Note the cartoon at this pro "same-sex marriage" article. Also note some of the comments ...I'm not the only lamenter. 
e.g. comment by Ross Howard (May 29):

"In Massachusetts, California and Ontario, education policy now mandates teaching the homosexual agenda to kids. The Australian Education Union too is ready, having adopted a ‘gender identity’ education policy back in 2006. .....The goal is to eliminate real Christian values"

e.g. comment by Marg (May 29):

"Did it cross your mind, John Warhurst, that what scripture says on this issue should play some part of what a purportedly Christian person decides? Or do we just go with the flow because the flow must be right?"

On this day in 2001 Dr Kenneth McAll went home to Heaven.

What he had learnt in China about healing, he took back to the UK - and helped thousands of people for whom ordinary medicine ...and ordinary prayers ...could not help. Whereas normally 15-30 per cent of anorexics die, 84 per cent of those he treated were cured.
Some of his experiences might seem incredible, and some people make fun of him. But for me I just wish I'd known about his book (Healing the Family Tree) earlier in my ministry ...I could have helped more people.

 Amazon (see comments)  

Genesis 28

When Rebecca sent Jacob to Haran, she and Isaac told Jacob to find a wife in Haran.

While Jacob was on his way to Haran, God appeared to him in a dream and said to him "I will keep you safe wherever you go, and I'll bring you back safely to your own land."

Dear God, please keep us safe wherever we go

Psalm 146

My soul, give praise to the Lord.
I will praise the Lord all my days.

Put no trust in princes, in mortal men in whom there is no help.

Take their breath, they return to clay, and their plans that day come to nothing.

They are happy who are helped by Jacob's God, whose hope is in the Lord our God, who alone made heaven and earth, the seas and all they contain.

It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the Lord, who sets prisoners free.

It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind, who raises up those who are bowed down.

It is the Lord who protects the stranger, and upholds the widow and orphan.

It is the Lord who loves the just, but thwarts the path of the wicked.

The Lord will reign for ever, Zion's God, from age to age.

Lord, please increase my trust and faith in you

Recording

Hebrews 7.1-28

Melchizedek was king of Salem and a priest of God. He blessed  Abraham.  Abraham gave Melchizedek 10% of all he had

Melchizedek's priesthood  continued down the ages in people dedicated to the service of God. It reached its perfection in the Son of God, the Eternal High Priest

The Son of God, our Lord, did not come from the priestly tribe of Levi. Everyone knows he came from the tribe of Judah

This is because he established a new priesthood, coming not from Levi, but from Melchizedek. This is why the prophecy was made of him "You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek, for ever"

Jesus' priestly power to save us is utterly certain, since he is living for ever to intercede for all who come to God through him

Jesus, Eternal High Priest, please help all pastors and priests be more like you every day

Recording

 Matthew 3.1-17

About 30 years after Jesus was born, a man began preaching repentance, and baptizing people in the river Jordan.

This man was John the Baptist.
His message was "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand".

John fulfilled the prophecy: "A voice cries in the wilderness: prepare a way for the Lord".

John said "I baptize you with water, but one is coming who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit".

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
After Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened, and Jesus saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove.

And a voice from heaven said
"This is my Son, the Beloved.
My favor rests on him".

Jesus, please help me to prepare your way, like John the Baptist

Recording

The attack on religious values is many-sided:

Ron Nikkel (Canada)   Prayer Politics
But even as public officials and members of our community met to pray, prayer was being marginalized, discounted, and denounced – as being an inappropriate, out of place, and an illegal practice for city council meetings and municipal governments across the land. Prayer was ruled by the Supreme Court (Canada) as politically unacceptable

Royal commission to call George Pell to second Ballarat hearing

Pope  Francis:  Full text     
The Joy of the Gospel 

8. Thanks to this encounter with God’s love, which blossoms into an enriching friendship, we are liberated from our narrowness and self-absorption. Here we find the source and inspiration of all our efforts at evangelization. For if we have received the love which restores meaning to our lives, how can we fail to share that love with others?

My weekly article in today's Ming Pao newspaper
with the topic: The story of Nathan
is on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK".
Free access to article with recording today from about noon to 8pm HK time. Text without recording

10 years ago today

2005-06-02 Evening meal in new community centre in Wai Kang , to celebrate wedding of local villager

A little girl became restless as the preacher's sermon dragged on and on. Finally she leaned over to her mother and whispered "Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?"

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 2nd of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Fujian

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 2nd of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Niger

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify Boko Haram 

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 HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

Pope Francis:
Thank you Holy Spirit

Inspiring photos:

Link
Link		Links 01  02	Link
Link	Link		Link
Link	Link		Link
Link	Link		Link

Newness, harmony, mission

Engagements of Pope Francis

Zenit.org - reports from Rome

This website's kind bloggers
(past and present)
with archives of articles:

Bakhita
 Hazel C
 Daniel Daring
Inigo Joachim
Brian Lewis
 Judith Lynch 
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Chris McDonnell
Bill Mulcahy 
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Darlene Starrs
 TASMAD
David Timbs 
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This website tries to stop "tanks"
(war, global warming, exploitation of the poor, globalisation of indifference, liturgical "reform of the reform" & other anti-Vatican II forces etc)

  Weekly Archive  of main page menus

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Previous Bible Blogs of this website

Previous Smiles file

John W: Previous Daily Blogs

The unjust treatment
 of Bishop Bill Morris

Hans Küng:  Letter to bishops  

Revolution to stop authoritarianism 

Fr Joseph Ratzinger: 
Writings on Vat II 

Robert Mickens:  
Vatican Implosion

Nicholas Lash:     Vatican II: 
Of Happy Memory - and Hope?

Robert McNally:  
Crisis & Criticism in the Church 

Priests 9 Masses a day
 - need to ordain married men

Why are women not being
 ordained to priesthood?   (updated)

A Call to Action
Assn Catholic Priests Ireland
Bp Pat Power
Bp Geoff Robinson
Bruce Duncan
Catalyst for Renewal
Catholica
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Catholics for Renewal 
STANDUP4VATICAN2
The Swag
VII - Voice of the Church
We Are Church

Excellent articles on Mission
  Hugh McMahon SSC

Imposter Priests
- refusing to pass on the teaching of Francis' The Joy of the Gospel

My Islam File

Political leaders who live(d) a simple life style and care(d) for the poor

HK Democracy File - essential reading

HK Asylum Seekers File

IS (ISIS) File - Essential Reading

Gaza File - essential reading

----------------------------

1998 ICEL Sacramentary

Misguided Missal 

The new translation
Ghastly process/result

Ron Schmit:
 1962 Mass a condemnation of Vat II

------------------------------------------

 Sacred Space  Daily prayer online.
Available in 19 languages

Jackie Evancho  - To Believe

Pray-as-you-go.org
Daily prayer with beautiful music

Whole text of 1966 Jerusalem Bible

The Last Supper -  Bohdan Piasecki 
(click to enlarge)

The Lord's Day (Pope John Paul II)

Bob Welsh - My Christmas Eve

 A Tale of Two Brains

The Story of Jonah 
as Told by The Cutest Little Girl
(gets even better as it goes along)

YouTube from KLM!

North Africa refugee boat - Link

Abortion Survivor’s Letter
 to the Abortionist

Tribalism lives on, 
for better and for worse

Video: Sydney Peace Prize Lecture by Julian Burnside  

16 Documents of Vatican II

This website's 
Reflections on the 16 documents
 of Vatican II

Be careful of junk reading re Pope:
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Why I collect rubbish for Pope

Taking a stand

Navigation Aids      

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"Reform of reform" agenda

Too Western/European 

Abortion - a true story

The evil of compulsory celibacy

Link between compulsory celibacy
 and sexual abuse

"Same-sex marriage": 
two elephants in the men's room     

     Near Death Experiences

Globalisation of Indifference

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China Library
 - essential reading for anyone interested in China's Christian history