v2catholic

Rally says "LOVE IS LOVE" - but what if it destroys other loves?

Pope's letter on climate change:
Laudato Si - on care for our common home

4. In 1971, eight years after Pacem in Terris, Blessed Pope Paul VI referred to the ecological concern as “a tragic consequence” of unchecked human activity: “Due to an ill-considered exploitation of nature, humanity runs the risk of destroying it and becoming in turn a victim of this degradation”.[2]

He spoke in similar terms to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations about the potential for an “ecological catastrophe under the effective explosion of industrial civilization”, and stressed “the urgent need for a radical change in the conduct of humanity”, inasmuch as “the most extraordinary scientific advances, the most amazing technical abilities, the most astonishing economic growth, unless they are accompanied by authentic social and moral progress, will definitively turn against man”.[3]

“If you give two men the right to marry, you give them the right to create motherless children.

You deliberately abolish a mother from the lives of future children created within the 'marriage' of two men. "That is not an act of love" Dr van Gend said.

	The Book Blog 4 readings + recordings
Comments/reflections welcome here Readings are from Simple Bible

Genesis 46

Jacob and his whole family, about 70 people, took all their possessions and moved to Egypt.

God said to Jacob "I myself will go down to Egypt with you".

Joseph was ready for their arrival in Egypt. As soon as his father appeared, Joseph ran to greet him.
Joseph threw his arms around his father, and cried for a long time on his father's shoulder.

Jacob said to Joseph "Now that I have seen you again, I can die in peace".

Dear God, please help separated family members to be re-united

A great movie about the above Bible reading. I have seen it, with English students, more than 30 times! Amazon

Psalms 17-18

Lord, when trouble breaks out on every side, please protect and help me.

For you are my strength, my rock, my fortress, my savior.

I love you, Lord who save me because you love me.

Lord, you are my lamp who lightens my life.

I will praise you among the nations.

Lord, you are worthy of all praise

Today's Gospel:

James 5.1-6

Are you rich and powerful? Then start weeping for the miseries that are coming your way

Your wealth is rotting, your clothes are being eaten by moths.
And your body also will soon be corroding in a burning fire

You cheated your workers. You lived a life of luxury without any care for people who were suffering

You condemned and killed the innocent

Jesus, give uncaring rich and powerful people a change of heart

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

Today's Gospel:

Matthew 9.18-26

A prayer hall official came to Jesus and said "My daughter has just died. Please come and lay your hand on her and she will come back to life".

As Jesus and his friends were following the official to his home,
a woman who had a hemorrhage for 12 years came up behind Jesus and touched his clothing.

The woman had said to herself
"If I can even touch his clothing, I will be healed".

Jesus knew what she was doing and said to her "My daughter, your faith has healed you". Instantly she was healed.

When Jesus arrived at the official's house, he saw a crowd of people crying loudly.

Jesus said to them "Get out of the house. The little girl is asleep, not dead". The crowd laughed at Jesus.

After the crowd had gone outside, Jesus went inside. He took the little girl by the hand, and she stood up.

News of what had happened spread all round the district.

Jesus, please increase my faith in your power to heal the sick and raise the dead

Pope's new encyclical suggests a dead language (Latin) no longer serves a living, decentralized Church

Pope praises Turin shroud as an 'icon of love'
Turin, the heartland of Italy’s car industry, is considered Italy’s working-class capital, and Francis used his two-day visit to the city to denounce exploitation of workers, singling out women, young people and immigrants as frequent victims

Yesterday I spent some time assisting a lawyer who is, free of charge ("pro bono") helping an African inmate in a HK prison. In fact the lawyer is helping quite a number of inmates. His kindness goes unreported in this world's media, but it's headlines in the Heavenly Times

Pope Francis: Full text
The Joy of the Gospel

30. Each particular Church, as a portion of the Catholic Church under the leadership of its bishop, is likewise called to missionary conversion.

It is the Church incarnate in a certain place, equipped with all the means of salvation bestowed by Christ. Its joy in communicating Jesus Christ is expressed both by a concern to preach him to areas in greater need and in constantly going forth to the outskirts of its own territory or towards new sociocultural settings.

Wherever the need for the light and the life of the Risen Christ is greatest, it will want to be there. To make this missionary impulse ever more focused, generous and fruitful, I encourage each particular Church to undertake a resolute process of discernment, purification and reform.

One day a salesman stopped by the Jammer Jones farm, knocked, and Jammer's wife Frannie came to the door.

"Is your husband home, Ma'am?" he asked.
"Sure is. He's over t'cow barn."
"Well, I have some important items to show him, Ma'am. Will I have any difficulty finding him?"
"Shouldn't...He's the one with the beard and mustache."

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 23rd of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Guangxi

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 23rd of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Djibouti

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)

Mon June 22

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Jesus' promises in 1675

"Same-sex marriage":
- Don't mess with marriage (espy p.13!)
-What is marriage?
-Elephants in men's room
-File of comments/articles on this site

Pope's letter on climate change:
Laudato Si - on care for our common home

Everything in this world has a relationship with us

3. More than fifty years ago, with the world teetering on the brink of nuclear crisis, Pope Saint John XXIII wrote an Encyclical which not only rejected war but offered a proposal for peace. He addressed his message Pacem in Terris to the entire “Catholic world” and indeed “to all men and women of good will”.

Now, faced as we are with global environmental deterioration, I wish to address every person living on this planet. In my Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, I wrote to all the members of the Church with the aim of encouraging ongoing missionary renewal.

In this Encyclical, I would like to enter into dialogue with all people about our common home.

CNN video report: What happened when Australia introduced gun controls

In the 19 years since the controls, no mass shootings. "Our 1996 reforms not only reduced the gun-related homicide rate, but also the suicide rate"

	The Book Blog 4 readings + recordings
Comments/reflections welcome here Readings are from Simple Bible

Genesis 45

When Joseph realized his older brothers were sorry for having sold him as a slave, he was overcome and started crying loudly.

He told his brothers "I am your brother Joseph whom you sold into Egypt. God sent me here to provide food for you".

He hugged all his brothers and talked with them. Joseph told his brothers to bring their father and their families to Egypt, since the famine would last for five more years.

Pharaoh was pleased that Joseph's brothers had come, and warmly invited them to live in Egypt.

The brothers returned to Canaan. They told their father that Joseph was alive. Their father Jacob was overcome with joy.

Dear God, please help separated family members to be re-united

Psalm 16

Please protect me, Lord, I take refuge in you. You are the only source of all true happiness.

I bless you, Lord, who guide and lead me. Even at night you direct my heart.

And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad. My body shall rest in safety now and always.

You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, at your right hand, happiness for ever.

Thank you, Lord, for the little joys you give us each day .... and the big joy you've prepared for us in Heaven.

James 4.13-15

Avoid talking like this: "Tomorrow I'm going to another town, to do business there for a year "

You don't know what will happen tomorrow. You are no more than a mist that is here for a little while, then disappears

What you should say is: "If it's the Lord's will, tomorrow I'm going to another town for a year"

Jesus, help me remember to say "God willing, I will see you next month" or "Please God, I will see you next month", rather than just "I'll see you next month"

Matthew 9.14-17

One day John the Baptist's friends asked Jesus "How come we and the religious leaders fast, but your friends don't?"

Jesus replied "Fasting is a good thing, and after I have left this world, my friends will fast.

But remember that multiplying external prayers and fasts
without a change of heart is useless.

Out of date religious structures need a drastic overhaul, not just external plastic surgery."

Jesus, please help me practise a bit of fasting, especially each Friday, the day you died

Earth stands on the brink of its sixth mass extinction and the fault is ours

We are now in the time of Ramadan ....a month of fasting by Muslims.

Many Christians are also fasting this month .... as a gesture of good-will towards Muslims ....and as a special prayer for our troubled world

My big effort: no ice cream this month!
(4 days down; 24 to go!)

Darlene Starrs (Blogger from Canada)
The Topic of the Day: Women Deacons?
There are people from all perspectives, in the Church, who believe, ordaining women to the diaconate is a slippery slope. After all, maybe women will not be satisfied with playing second fiddle

From Catholic Church Reform International:

Jubilee of Mercy survey on the 2015 Synod Lineamenta
and
Covering letter to Cardinal Baldisseri

On guns and race, America is a nation shackled to its past

HK MTR (Metro) increases fares by 4.3%
???The train operator made a profit of HK$15.6 billion last year???

Tanzania general election October 25:
CCM needs to BE SERIOUS ABOUT Ending Graft

Pope Francis: Full text
The Joy of the Gospel

29. Other Church institutions, basic communities and small communities, movements, and forms of association are a source of enrichment for the Church, raised up by the Spirit for evangelizing different areas and sectors. Frequently they bring a new evangelizing fervour and a new capacity for dialogue with the world whereby the Church is renewed.

But it will prove beneficial for them not to lose contact with the rich reality of the local parish and to participate readily in the overall pastoral activity of the particular Church. This kind of integration will prevent them from concentrating only on part of the Gospel or the Church, or becoming nomads without roots

Interactive Bible Quiz - Ezra
Based on the actual words of the Bible.
How many times can you get 3/3 ?!

10 years ago today

2005-06-22 Dongguan- special visitor from USA - Fr Seamus Finn O.M.I.

Notice how Google has gone green .....Pope's climate change letter having an effect?

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 22nd of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Zhejiang

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 22nd of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Rwanda

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

New letter (in Swahili) from Tz inmate in HK prison

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)

Sun June 21

Happy Father's Day!
(in many countries, inclu HK)

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Jesus' promises in 1675

"Same-sex marriage":
- Don't mess with marriage (espy p.13!)
-What is marriage?
-Elephants in men's room
-File of comments/articles on this site

Pope's letter on climate change:
Laudato si - on care for our common home

2. This sister (the earth) now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her.

We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will. The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life.

This is why the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she “groans in travail” (Rom 8:22).

We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth (cf. Gen 2:7); our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters.

Some readers might be wondering, indeed I myself was wondering, how come on the daily menu of this website there are now readings from both of Pope Francis' major teachings ("The Joy of the Gospel" and "Laudato Si")?

Well, one of the main ways we can help our troubled world and our troubled church is to put into practice the ideas of the above two teachings.

To be honest, many Catholics, even many priests, still have not yet read "The Joy of the Gospel". And those of us who have read it once, realise that it's so rich and so important, we need to keep on reading it until its ideas sink deeply into our minds and hearts and church and world.

My way of re-reading "The Joy of the Gospel" and reading "Laudato Si" is to put them on the daily menu. I hope this has a good effect on myself .... and helps others

	The Book Blog 4 readings + recordings
Comments/reflections welcome here Readings are from Simple Bible

c.f. Readings for "Sunday 12"

Job 38: 1, 8-11

From the heart of the tempest the Lord gave Job his answer. He said:

"Who pent up the sea behind closed doors when it leapt tumultuous out of the womb;

when I wrapped it in a robe of mist and made black clouds its swaddling bands;

when I marked the bounds it was not to cross, and made it fast with a bolted gate?

Come thus far, I said, and no farther: here your proud waves shall break"

Lord, the sea belongs to you for you made it

My recording of this reading

Psalm 107

Some sailed to the sea in ships to trade on the mighty waters. These men have seen the Lord’s deeds, the wonders he does in the deep.

For he spoke; he summoned the gale, tossing the waves of the sea up to heaven and back into the deep; their souls melted away in their distress.

Then they cried to the Lord in their need, and he rescued them from their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper. All the waves of the sea were hushed

Thank you Lord, for your rescuing love

YouTube (+ lyrics) Put your hand in the hand of the Man who stilled the waters

2 Corinthians 5.14-19

The love of Christ is like a tsunami. It overwhelms us and sweeps us away when we remember how Jesus died for everyone

God, through Christ, has repaired his friendship with humanity. We must spread the news of this reconciliation

"And when I think, that God his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in"
- from How Great Thou Art
(with lyrics ...3 million views)

Chinese text Previous reflections

Daniel Daring:
Adventure of Faith

A life of faith is like a trip across the sea of Galilee. You never know when a storm will hit

Mark 4.35-41

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

2005-06-21 Visit to Ricci Centre by students from Zhaoqing Specialist Medical College

John Allen: Pope’s eco-manifesto looks like a game-changer in the US
Francis’ encyclical appears set to reshape a presidential race, stimulate a national moral check-up, and transform practices in one of the country’s largest and most influential institutions.

Fr. Seán McDonagh, SSC: Caring for our common home
Despite this wonderful document, Catholics must remember that to date, care for the earth is still only at the periphery of Catholic experience. For example, there are very few ‘care of the earth’ ministries in dioceses or parishes world-wide. That needs to change radically if the vision in Laudato Si is to come to fruition. One effective way of educating people would be through a traditional Church process, called a Synod

Tanzania - general election October 25: Candidates must tell us their sources of funds

Some leaders have been accused of stashing illegally acquired money in offshore bank accounts. Some of these individuals are believed to be public leaders who are now either supporting some presidential aspirants through donations or eyeing some elective posts. It is sad to see leaders who stole from us coming back with the same money to seek powers so that they can steal more.

Pope Francis: Full text
The Joy of the Gospel

28. The parish is not an outdated institution; precisely because it possesses great flexibility, it can assume quite different contours depending on the openness and missionary creativity of the pastor and the community.

This presumes that it really is in contact with the homes and the lives of its people, and does not become a useless structure out of touch with people or a self-absorbed group made up of a chosen few.

The parish is the presence of the Church in a given territory, an environment for hearing God’s word, for growth in the Christian life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship and celebration.

In all its activities the parish encourages and trains its members to be evangelizers. It is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey, and a centre of constant missionary outreach.

We must admit, though, that the call to review and renew our parishes has not yet sufficed to bring them nearer to people, to make them environments of living communion and participation, and to make them completely mission-oriented.

10 years ago
today

Woman's breast implants (after Pereira hospital operation) held 1.5kg of cocaine, say Colombian airport police (c.f. two definitions of boob!)

City of Pereira is where dozens of drug mules imprisoned in HK come from. About a dozen more have come this year. Apparently they keep coming because some get through customs, which makes the risk of worth trying worthwhile for poor/greedy people

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 21st of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Yunnan

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 21st of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Benin

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)

Sat June 20

Happy Dragon Boat Festival!

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Jesus' promises in 1675

"Same-sex marriage":
- Don't mess with marriage (espy p.13!)
-What is marriage?
-Elephants in men's room
-File of comments/articles on this site

Pope's letter on climate change:
Laudato si - on care for our common home

1. “LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord”. In the words of this beautiful canticle, Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home, the earth, is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us. “Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with coloured flowers and herbs”.

2. This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will. The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected

HK Pro-Beijing Forces Lose the Plot

The pro-government side wanted the debate to end early rather than late afternoon when demonstrators were expected. So its legislators were advised not to make long speeches. As a result, by soon after midday there was no one left to speak, so a vote had to be called.

Most of the pro-Beijing group, waiting for a late member, walked out of the legislative council to attempt to postpone the vote, but their coordination was so bad that enough of them, oblivious to the plan, stayed in the chamber, inadvertently constituting a quorum.

	The Book Blog 4 readings + recordings
Comments/reflections welcome here Readings are from Simple Bible

Genesis 44

Joseph had his brothers' sacks filled with free grain, then he gave them back their money.

But he again put them to the test:
he got his servants to put his special chalice in Benjamin's sack.

Not long after the brothers left,
Joseph's servants caught up with them, and asked them why had they stolen Joseph's chalice.

They replied that they would never dream of doing such a thing and that if the chalice was found in anyone's sack, that man would die.

Each man's sack was opened, beginning with the oldest, and finally the chalice was discovered in Benjamin's sack.

On returning to Joseph's home
the brothers pleaded with Joseph not to punish Benjamin.

Judah even offered to be Joseph's slave for life in return for Benjamin's freedom

Dear God, please help us in time of trial

Psalms 14-15

So many people live and act as if God doesn't exist.

Some foolish people even say there is no God.

So many people have left the way of justice and truth.

So many people follow the way of falsehood.

Lord, help us to live as we should.

Help us not to slander, help us not to wrong others.

Lord, help us to stand firm in the way of goodness

Recording

James 4.7-12

Turn towards God. Turn away from the Devil, and the Devil will run away from you

Clean your hearts and minds. Be sorry for your sins.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up

Do not slander one another.

Who are you to give a verdict on your neighbor?

Jesus, help me understand "the time to judge others is never"

Today's Gospel

Matthew 9.9-13

One day when Jesus was walking past a customs house, he said to a tax collector named Matthew "Follow me".

Matthew got up and followed Jesus.

Matthew invited Jesus and Jesus' friends to a dinner in his house.
Some tax collectors and "bad" people sat at Jesus' table.

Religious leaders saw this and complained to Jesus' friends
"Why does your master eat with tax collectors and bad people?"

Jesus' answer was "It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick.

Go and think about the Bible words 'What I want is mercy, not sacrifice'.

I have a special concern for rejects and down-and-outs."

Jesus, please help religious leaders in today's world to care more about people who are rejected by society

Mothers of Isis recruits find healing and resolve through support network

Today is the June Solstice (longest/shortest day of the year)

Expert calls the science behind the Pope's encyclical ‘watertight’
60 of the richest individuals in the world own the same amount of wealth as 3.5 billion of the planet’s poorest people

Guardian editorial on Laudato Si: Pope Francis calls for a cultural revolution

The subtle importance of Francis’ use of footnotes

Francis' views on global warming cold comfort for Canberra

Pope Francis: Full text
The Joy of the Gospel

27. I dream of a “missionary option”, that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation. “All renewal in the Church must have mission as its goal if it is not to fall prey to a kind of ecclesial introversion”.

10 years ago
on this day

2005-06-20 English word bingo at Xinqiao & Ng Chuen primary schools

HK netizens ridicule lawmakers' blunder

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 20th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Sichuan

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 20th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Gambia

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)

Fri June 19

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Jesus' promises in 1675

"Same-sex marriage":
- Don't mess with marriage (espy p.13!)
-What is marriage?
-Elephants in men's room
-File of comments/articles on this site

Pope's climate change encyclical tells rich nations: 'Pay your debt to the poor'

Live reaction and analysis: The Pope's encyclical on climate change

"Moral leadership on climate change from the Pope is particularly important because of the failure of many heads of state and government around the world to show political leadership"

Full text of the encyclical
(from tomorrow, a little bit of it on each day's menu DV)

"Same-sex marriage"
"Only now, as I watch my children loving and being loved by their father each day, can I see the beauty and wisdom in traditional marriage and parenting. Same-sex marriage and parenting withholds either a mother or father from a child while telling him or her that it doesn’t matter. That it’s all the same. But it’s not. A lot of us, a lot of your kids, are hurting. My father’s absence created a huge hole in me, and I ached every day for a dad. I loved my mom’s partner, but another mom could never have replaced the father I lost. - from: Letter to 153 CEOs and Directors: On your support for same-sex ‘marriage’

Welfare officer at a HK women's prison asked me to help locate (in Tanzania) the missing 15 year old son of a Tanzanian inmate. Tz social worker Grace in Dar Es Salaam has contacted police and placed this advertisement in media:

click to enlarge

Jesus, may "Goodluck" soon be safely reunited with his family!

	The Book Blog 4 readings + recordings
Comments/reflections welcome here Readings are from Simple Bible

Genesis 43

The famine continued and so Jacob sent his sons back to Egypt to buy more grain.

This time Benjamin went with them, even though Jacob worried greatly about his safety.

When the brothers arrived in Egypt, Joseph invited them to his home for a meal. Simeon was allowed to join them. The brothers still didn't recognize Joseph.

Joseph was moved when he saw Benjamin, his full blood brother.
Joseph left the company and cried for quite some time.

When Joseph rejoined the group,
he gave the brothers a hearty meal which they all enjoyed. Joseph arranged that Benjamin's portion was extra large.

Dear God, please bless all missing persons (especially Goodluck in Tanzania!)

Psalms 9-13

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart.

You have so often rescued me from trouble. Thank you!

You are the best helper for people in trouble.

Please keep on helping me when troubles come.

Please stop bad people from hurting others.

Please let peoples in all countries know they must avoid evil and live a life of justice.

Dear Lord, thank you for so often rescuing me

James 3.16-17

Wherever you find jealousy and ambition, you find disharmony and evil practices

On the other hand, wisdom from heaven is good and peaceful and kindly and considerate.

It is full of compassion, and does good.

There is no trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it

Jesus, give me wisdom. Make me peaceful

Today's Gospel:

Matthew 9.1-8

Some people carried a paralyzed man through a crowd to Jesus.
The man was on a bed.

Jesus knew that these people believed he could help them, so he said to the paralyzed man "Courage, your sins are forgiven".

Religious leaders in the crowd were thinking to themselves that Jesus was wrong to say he could forgive sins.

So Jesus said to the leaders: Which is easier: to say 'Your sins are forgiven', or to say 'Get up and walk'?

Then to prove that he had authority to forgive sins, he said to the paralyzed man "Get up, pick up your bed and go home".

The man got up and went home.
The crowd praised God for what they had seen.

Jesus, please give me more faith in your power to forgive, your power to heal

Hong Kong parliament defies Beijing's insistence and rejects (fake) 'democracy' plan

(Beijing soon to release a new Dummies book: How to stir up trouble in your own country ....Hong Kong, Xinjiang..)

This is a BIG mistake which could really backfire:
Beijing restricts observance of Ramadan in Xinjiang

Mainland officials have banned civil servants, students and teachers in its mainly Muslim Xinjiang region from fasting during Ramadan, and ordered restaurants to stay open

Six women and three men killed by white gunman at historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina

What happens when an entire country becomes infested with demons?
- a nation-wide exorcism of Mexico, carried out quietly last month in the cathedral of San Luis Potosí. High levels of violence, as well as drug cartels and abortion in the country, were the motivation behind the special rite of exorcism, known as “Exorcismo Magno.”

Women deacons for Ireland?

Pope Francis: Full text
The Joy of the Gospel

26. Paul VI invited us to deepen the call to renewal and to make it clear that renewal does not only concern individuals but the entire Church. "This is the source of the Church’s heroic and impatient struggle for renewal: the struggle to correct those flaws introduced by her members which her own self-examination, mirroring her exemplar, Christ, points out to her and condemns”.

The Second Vatican Council presented ecclesial conversion as openness to a constant self-renewal born of fidelity to Jesus Christ: “Every renewal of the Church essentially consists in an increase of fidelity to her own calling… Christ summons the Church as she goes her pilgrim way… to that continual reformation of which she always has need, in so far as she is a human institution here on earth”.

There are some ecclesial structures which can hamper efforts at evangelization, and even good structures are only helpful when there is a life constantly driving, sustaining and assessing them. Without new life and an authentic evangelical spirit ... any new structure will soon prove ineffective

10 years ago today

2005-06-19 CAS promotion to town of Fengkai, about two hours from Zhaoqing

1: Walkout was my idea, says DAB (pro-government) lawmaker
(... farcial vote on fake democracy...)

2: re Pope's climate change encyclical - comment in this Guardian article
- "some sections sound like they could have been ghostwritten by Guardian columnist George Monbiot"

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 19th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shanxi

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 19th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Sudan

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

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)

Thur June 18

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Jesus' promises in 1675

"Same-sex marriage":
- Don't mess with marriage (espy p.13!)
-What is marriage?
-Elephants in men's room
-File of comments/articles on this site

Snowden’s lawyer - Robert Tibbo (based in HK) - slams Times story claiming leaks ‘betrayed’ British spies

George Monbiot: Channelling the Joy

I see the encyclical by Pope Francis as a potential turning point. He will argue that not only the physical survival of the poor, but also our spiritual welfare depends on the protection of the natural world; and in both respects he is right.

Cardinal George Pell is a prominent climate change denier. His lecture to the Global Warming Policy Foundation was the usual catalogue of zombie myths (discredited claims that keep resurfacing), nonsequiturs and outright garbage, championing, for example, the groundless claim that undersea volcanoes could be responsible for global warming. There are plenty of senior Catholics seeking to undermine the Pope’s defence of the living world; which could explain why his encyclical was leaked.

What I mean is that Pope Francis reminds us that the living world provides not only material goods and tangible services, but is also essential to other aspects of our well-being. And you don’t have to believe in God to endorse that view

“There was no data in a cloud. He passed the data on to the journalists and that was it. Any actual copy he had with him was destroyed [before he left Hong Kong], precisely to avoid it from being seized or intercepted. I was a witness to all of that"

c.f.
- Snowden's Canadian lawyer

	The Book Blog 4 readings + recordings
Comments/reflections welcome here Readings are from Simple Bible

Genesis 42

In Joseph's home country of Canaan, the famine was very severe. Joseph's father Jacob said to his sons "I hear there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go to Egypt and buy grain for our families so that we will not die".

All Joseph's brothers, except Benjamin, went to Egypt
and arrived at the place where Joseph was selling grain.

The brothers had not seen Joseph for about 20 years, and they didn't recognize him. But Joseph recognized them.

Joseph put them to the test: he said they were spies, and he told them to bring Benjamin to Egypt to prove they were not spies.

He kept Simeon in prison until they returned with Benjamin.

Dear God, please help any places in the world which are suffering from famine

Psalm 8

How great is your name, O Lord our God, through all the earth.

When I see the heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and stars which you have arranged, then I stop and think: what are we insignificant humans that you should care about us?

Yet you have put us in charge of the world. Everything is subject to our control.

How great is your name, O Lord our God, through all the earth

Recording

James 3.3-10

When a bit is put into a horse's mouth, the whole animal is under control. A tiny rudder can control a big ship

In the same way, if you can control your tongue, you can control every other part of yourself

The tongue is a whole wicked world in itself. It is so hard to control. We use it to bless God, but we also use it to curse people made in God's image

Jesus, please help me control my tongue!

Matthew 8.23-27

Jesus and his "fisher of men" friends got into a boat to cross the lake near Capernaum.

Jesus was so tired that he went to sleep in the boat.

Then 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

Video: I've got two boyfriends. It's time polyamory became socially acceptable

As many people are warning, legalising "same-sex marriage" opens the gate to relationships of more than 2 people:

Pastoral Letter of Cardinal John Tong: Electoral Reform and the Wellbeing of Hong Kong Society

The day is fast approaching when the Government’s controversial electoral reform package for the election of the Chief Executive will be put to the vote in the Legislative Council, with or without amendments.

There is widespread concern over the package and the current impasse. The community’s anxieties are aggravated by pressing livelihood and other social issues which the Diocese has, more than once, identified as also requiring urgent attention and action

"Same-sex marriage"

HK Diocese English weekly - editorial: Irish shock treatment for the Church

Put simply, Ireland’s yes vote on May 22 was the result of a concerted campaign which began in the United States of America in 2000. It worked on a simple principle: use money and influence to buy radical social change around the world. Same-sex marriage campaigners in Ireland have benefited to the tune of millions of dollars from Atlantic Philanthropies, the organisation that funds socially liberal causes

Pope Francis: Full text
The Joy of the Gospel

25. I am aware that nowadays documents do not arouse the same interest as in the past and that they are quickly forgotten. Nevertheless, I want to emphasize that what I am trying to express here has a programmatic significance and important consequences.

I hope that all communities will devote the necessary effort to advancing along the path of a pastoral and missionary conversion which cannot leave things as they presently are. “Mere administration” can no longer be enough. Throughout the world, let us be “permanently in a state of mission”

10 years ago today

2005-06-18 Visit by Ricci Centre children to Zhaoqing Fire Station!

2005-06-18 Regular Saturday night meal with the poor at Marco Polo Centre

2005-06-18 HK/Australia volunteer Thomas with his latest special student Gary

Short list of suspects:
Scottish island rocked by rare theft

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 18th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shandong

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 18th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Ivory Coast

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)

Wed June 17

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Jesus' promises in 1675

"Same-sex marriage":
- Don't mess with marriage (espy p.13!)
-What is marriage?
-Elephants in men's room
-File of comments/articles on this site

On the menu of June 14, below, I said how Dar Es Salaam social worker Grace is asking for help in setting up a company in Tanzania to support families of Tz inmates in HK. The company will be called "St Barnabas Company" ("Barnabas" = "encouragement").

Many thanks to two kind HK readers for donations of HK$5,000 and HK$2000 to send to Grace. That's $7,000 so far. I need another $6,000 to reach the target of US$1,700 (plus a bit extra to send by Western Union) jdwomi@gmail.com

Ramadan starts tomorrow, June 18, and goes for 30 days until Friday, the 17th of July. In the Muslim calendar, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so Muslims will celebrate Ramadan at sunset tonight

Ramadan is a good time for Christians to pray for Muslims ...even to do a little bit of fasting over the coming month...and to reach out in friendship to Muslims

My daily "Muslim-related prayer intention" is at the bottom of each day's menu. I hope some kind readers will use it each day this month

	The Book Blog 4 readings + recordings
Comments/reflections welcome here Readings are from Simple Bible

Genesis 41 (a)

Two years later Pharaoh had a dream: he was standing by the river Nile and saw 7 healthy cows feeding on the riverside.

Then he saw 7 sickly cows which ate the 7 healthy cows.

Pharaoh woke, then had a second dream when he went back to sleep: 7 rich ears of corn on one stalk, followed by 7 withered ears
which ate the 7 rich ears.

None of Pharaoh's wise men could interpret the dreams.

Then the cup-bearer told Pharaoh
how Joseph could understand dreams.

Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and Joseph told Pharaoh the meaning of his dreams: the 7 healthy cows and 7 rich ears meant 7 good years for Egypt;

the 7 sickly cows and 7 withered ears meant 7 years of famine.

Genesis 41 (b)

Joseph also told Pharaoh what to do: use a tax to collect one fifth of all grain in the 7 good years;
then during the 7 years of famine,
use the collected grain to feed Egypt.

Pharaoh and his ministers were so impressed by Joseph's wisdom,
that Pharaoh made Joseph governor of the whole of Egypt,
second only to Pharaoh himself.

Pharaoh gave Joseph Asenath, a priest's daughter, as his wife.

Joseph was now 30 years old,
having spent more than 10 years in Egypt.

For the next 7 years Joseph traveled all over Egypt, supervising the collection of grain.

Before the famine began, Joseph and Asenath had two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim.

When the famine began, Pharaoh told the Egyptians "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you".

People from all over Egypt and from other countries went to Joseph to buy grain during the famine.

Dear God, thank you for turning things around in Joseph's life

Recording

James 2.14-16

Faith and good works need to go together.

Suppose someone is lacking clothes and food, and you say "I wish you well" and do nothing to help them.

What good is that? Faith without good deeds is useless

Jesus, please help me put my faith into action by good deeds

Matthew 8.14-17

Jesus went to the home of Peter the "fisher of men".

Peter's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever.

Jesus touched her hand, and the fever left her. She got up and began to serve her visitor.

That evening, many sick people were brought to Peter's home.
Jesus healed them all.

Jesus, please heal ..... (names)....who are sick

Chris McDonnell (Wed UK blogger)

Listening
The word ‘listen’ is an anagram of the word ‘silent’ and there are indeed connections. We hear a lot of noise in the course of a day, often a cacophony of sound is the backdrop to our waking hours, but hearing is not listening.

Nigeria:
Like Jonathan, Buhari has no political backbone

Indonesia minister’s call for mutual respect during Ramadan sparks backlash
Religious affairs minister appeals to Muslims not to force food vendors to close during holy month

Pope Francis: Full text
The Joy of the Gospel

24. The Church is a community of missionary disciples who take the first step, who are involved and supportive, who bear fruit and rejoice. An evangelizing community knows that the Lord has taken the initiative, he has loved us first, and therefore we can move forward, boldly taking the initiative, going out to others, seeking those who have fallen away, standing at the crossroads and welcoming the outcast. Such a community has an endless desire to show mercy, the fruit of its own experience of the Father’s infinite mercy. Let us try a little harder to take the first step and to become involved. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. The Lord gets involved and he involves his own, as he kneels to wash their feet.
An evangelizing community gets involved by word and deed in people’s daily lives; it bridges distances, it is willing to abase itself if necessary, and it embraces human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others.

An elderly woman, who lived just a block from the church, never missed a Sunday service for most of her life. Each week, as she greeted the pastor after church, she would always say, "Reverend, that was a wonderful sermon. THEY really needed that!" One cold winter day, after a heavy snowfall with most of the town buried in deep drifts, she was the only one who showed up for church. The pastor decided that he would take advantage of the situation by preaching a sermon on the evils of being self-righteous and hypocritical. As she left the church, the woman greeted the pastor as usual and exclaimed, "Reverend, that was one of the best sermons you ever preached. It was really great. If THEY had been here, THEY really would have needed that!"

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 17th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shaanxi

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 17th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Malawi

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)

Tue June 16

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Jesus' promises in 1675

"Same-sex marriage":
- Don't mess with marriage (espy p.13!)
-What is marriage?
-Elephants in men's room
-File of comments/articles on this site

Special Assignment: Beast or Bait

HK academics urge rejection of reform plan: Around 1,900 academics and professionals have signed a declaration expressing deep concern about Hong Kong's future, and have urged lawmakers to reject the government's political reform ((for fake democracy))

In an advertisement published in Monday's Ming Pao newspaper, they said HK's core values, including liberty, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, are being eroded

26 min video report from South African Broadcasting Commission, about drug mules in Asian prisons ....some of them facing execution.

In Thailand: 200 women in one cell ...sleeping sardine-style on floor. About 21,000 new women inmates since 2009

World leaders accused of shameful failure over refugee crisis

“We are witnessing the worst refugee crisis of our era, with millions of women, men and children struggling to survive amidst brutal wars, networks of people traffickers and governments who pursue selfish political interests instead of showing basic human compassion”

	The Book Blog 4 readings + recordings
Comments/reflections welcome here Readings are from Simple Bible

Genesis 40

Even in jail, God protected Joseph.

When two of Pharaoh's officials,
his cup-bearer and his baker also were put in jail, Joseph was able to interpret dreams they had.

The cup-bearer dreamt he picked grapes and made wine for Pharaoh's cup.

Joseph told him the meaning of his dream: in three days he'd be free
and back at work as Pharaoh's cup-bearer.

The baker dreamt that birds ate bread from a tray on top of his head.

Joseph told him: "In three days you'll be hanged, and birds will eat your flesh."

And so it happened as Joseph had said: on the third day the cup-bearer went back to work in Pharaoh's palace, while the baker was hanged.

Joseph asked the cup-bearer to help him get out of jail, but when the cup-bearer was free, he forgot about Joseph.

Dear God, please bless everyone who has ever helped me

Psalm 7

Lord God, I take refuge in you.
Please rescue me from people who are trying to hurt me.

Lord, please stop bad people from doing bad things.

Please help good people to keep on doing good things.

Lord, I will sing to you and thank you for your goodness to me.

Lord, please help me to avoid evil and to do good

Today's Gospel:

James 2.1-13

Don't try to combine faith in Jesus Christ, our glorified Lord, with the making of distinctions between classes of people

Suppose two men come into your prayer meeting, one beautifully dressed and with a gold ring; the other poor and in shabby clothes

If you welcome the rich man, and look down on the poor man, you are making a big mistake

It was those who are poor according to the world, that God chose to be rich in faith

So, never make distinctions between classes of people.
Everyone is your neighbor. Love your neighbor as yourself

There will be judgment without mercy for people who have not been merciful. But merciful people need have no fear of judgment

Jesus, help me treat everyone equally and fairly. No favorites

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 8.5-13

In the town of Capernaum, a Roman army captain said to Jesus
"Sir, my servant is paralyzed and in great pain." Jesus replied "I will go and heal him".

But the captain said "Sir, I am not worthy that you should enter my house. Just say the word and my servant will be healed.

For I understand orders. I give an order, and people act. I know that you also just need to give an order, and my servant will be healed".

Jesus said "This foreigner's faith is greater than that of the local people. And I tell you that in the future, people from all parts of the world will be in the kingdom of heaven".

Then Jesus said to the captain
"Go home. Your request made in faith is granted".

And the servant was healed at that moment.

Jesus, please give more people,
from all parts of the world, the faith of the captain