v2catholic

Listen
to 78

Pope's letter on climate change:
Laudato Si 我主應受讚美

78. At the same time, Judaeo-Christian thought demythologized nature. While continuing to admire its grandeur and immensity, it no longer saw nature as divine.

In doing so, it emphasizes all the more our human responsibility for nature.

This rediscovery of nature can never be at the cost of the freedom and responsibility of human beings who, as part of the world, have the duty to cultivate their abilities in order to protect it and develop its potential.

If we acknowledge the value and the fragility of nature and, at the same time, our God-given abilities, we can finally leave behind the modern myth of unlimited material progress.

A fragile world, entrusted by God to human care, challenges us to devise intelligent ways of directing, developing and limiting our power.

10 years ago today

Visit to Zhaoqing poor areas and CAS by crew from Hunan TV with 15 minute YouTube video of TV report

Sound: Putonghua
Picture: Everyonehua

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

Readings for Feast of Mary of Sorrows

Hebrews 5.7-9

During his life on earth, Christ offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had the power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard.

Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation.

My recording of this reading

Psalm 31:

In you, O Lord, I take refuge. Let me never be put to shame. In your justice, set me free, hear me and speedily rescue me.

Be a rock of refuge for me, a mighty stronghold to save me, for you are my rock, my stronghold.

Into your hands I commend my spirit. It is you who will redeem me, Lord.

I trust in you, Lord. You are my God. My life is in your hands, deliver me from the hands of those who hate me.

Recording

A traditional prayer on this day: The Stabat Mater

At the Cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to her Son to the last

Luke 2.33-35

As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’

Recording

John 19.25-27

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.

Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.

Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home

How Europe can learn from the hard lessons of HK's Vietnamese refugee crisis

O dear Mother, fount of love.
Touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with thine accord:

Make me feel as thou hast felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ my Lord.

Archbishop of Brisbane offers to take in 100 Syrian refugee families

Cuba pardons thousands of prisoners ahead of Pope's visit

Prison inmates tour Vatican Gardens and Sistine Chapel

Americans are ready to hear Pope Francis – but will they listen?

God Calling: Sep 13

My Name is the Power that turns evil aside, that summons all good to your aid. Spirits of evil flee at the sound of "Jesus." Spoken in fear, in weakness, in sorrow, in pain, it is an appeal I never fail to answer. "Jesus."

Use it not only when you need help but to express Love. Uttered aloud, or in the silence of your hearts, it will alter an atmosphere from one of discord to one of Love. It will raise the standard of talk and thought. "Jesus."

Fifty shades of Xi – China’s confessional politics of dominance

Recording of 119

Pope Francis: The Joy of the Gospel Full text

119. In all the baptized, from first to last, the sanctifying power of the Spirit is at work, impelling us to evangelization.

The people of God is holy thanks to this anointing, which makes it infallible in credendo. This means that it does not err in faith, even though it may not find words to explain that faith. The Spirit guides it in truth and leads it to salvation.

As part of his mysterious love for humanity, God furnishes the totality of the faithful with an instinct of faith – sensus fidei – which helps them to discern what is truly of God.

The presence of the Spirit gives Christians a certain connaturality with divine realities, and a wisdom which enables them to grasp those realities intuitively, even when they lack the wherewithal to give them precise expression

Australia: old and new prime ministers

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 15th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Liaoning

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 15th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Zimbabwe

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)

Monday September 14

3 Oblates among new bishops
who met with Pope last week:

Jan Kot O.M.I. (Brazil), Wilhelm Steckling O.M.I. (Paraguay) & Mark Edwards O.M.I. (Melbourne)

The refugee crisis has brought a compassion explosion – where will this energy go?

Listen
to 77

Pope's letter on climate change:
Laudato Si 我主應受讚美

77. “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made” (Ps 33:6). This tells us that the world came about as the result of a decision, not from chaos or chance, and this exalts it all the more.

The creating word expresses a free choice. The universe did not emerge as the result of arbitrary omnipotence, a show of force or a desire for self-assertion. Creation is of the order of love. God’s love is the fundamental moving force in all created things: “For you love all things that exist, and detest none of the things that you have made; for you would not have made anything if you had hated it” (Wis 11:24).

Every creature is thus the object of the Father’s tenderness, who gives it its place in the world.

Even the fleeting life of the least of beings is the object of his love, and in its few seconds of existence, God enfolds it with his affection. Saint Basil the Great described the Creator as “goodness without measure”,[44] while Dante Alighieri spoke of “the love which moves the sun and the stars”.[45] Consequently, we can ascend from created things “to the greatness of God and to his loving mercy”.[46]

A most encouraging article!

c.f. prayer on Sep 1 menu of this website (scroll down here):

Lord, may the growing globalization of indifference and selfishness be replaced by a spreading spirit of compassion and care.

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

Readings for Feast of The Cross

Numbers 21:

In order to avoid the land of Edom, the Israelites headed towards the coastline.

But the people again criticized God and Moses.

So God sent snakes among the people, and many people died.

The people then said to Moses "We have sinned; please pray
for us to save us".

Moses prayed for them, and God heard his prayer.

God told Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Anyone bitten by a snake could then look at the bronze snake
and live

Jesus' words (John 3.13): "The Son of Man must be lifted up
as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him".

Psalm 78 (b)

May future generations not be like our ancestors who so often were unfaithful to God.

Even though our ancestors had seen God part the sea, even though they had seen him provide food and water for them in the desert, still they went on sinning.

Yet he who is full of compassion forgave and spared them. He remembered they were only weak humans.

Eventually he brought them to the promised land and gave a home to each of Israel's tribes.

But still they sinned by building mountain shrines and serving idols.

Then God raised up David to be their leader. God called him from looking after sheep to be the shepherd of his people.

Lord, help us not to forget all you have done for us

Philippians 2.6-11

His state was divine, yet Christ Jesus did not cling to his equality with God, but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave and became as humans are

And being as all humans are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.

But God raised him high, and gave him the name which is above all other names, so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus, and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Recording
(song: The Philippians Hymn)

For today's Feast of The Cross,
a beautiful poem Retreat
by James McAuley

Verses 2 & 3:

Soon you must return to tasks
That sicken and appall:
The calumnies will never cease,
Look only to the sign of peace,
The Cross upon the wall.

This is that sole instrument
That measures every chart;
This square and level overrules
The subtle calculus of fools
By a celestial art.

John 3.13-16

Jesus said to Nicodemus: ‘No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man who is in heaven;

and the Son of Man must be lifted up, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.

Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.

For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.’

How faith helped Hercules Actor Kevin Sorbo through a time of serious illness

Darlene Starrs (Blogger from Canada)

Exaltation of the Cross
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross demonstrates how much God loves us

Last night I found out that there was a reporter at the music bash last Wednesday night in Temple Street to raise funds for our Sunday night gathering for the poor. Maybe a report in HK's Oriental Daily today or tomorrow. Also found out last night how much was bashed: HK$50,000! DG! That will pay for the 200+ weekly rice boxes for four months! Bash was organised by Mr Huen Wong, President of the HK Law Society! (...who can be seen playing guitar in first link, above!)

Recording of 118

Pope Francis: The Joy of the Gospel Full text

118. The Bishops of Oceania asked that the Church “develop an understanding and a presentation of the truth of Christ working from the traditions and cultures of the region” and invited “all missionaries to work in harmony with indigenous Christians so as to ensure that the faith and the life of the Church be expressed in legitimate forms appropriate for each culture”.

We cannot demand that peoples of every continent, in expressing their Christian faith, imitate modes of expression which European nations developed at a particular moment of their history, because the faith cannot be constricted to the limits of understanding and expression of any one culture. It is an indisputable fact that no single culture can exhaust the mystery of our redemption in Christ

To go with guitar story, above

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

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 14th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Ethiopia

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)

Sunday September 13 Christianity is not European, but transcultural - 117, below

YouTube (7 mins)

Oblate at UN speaks of ‘Laudato Si’

Listen
to 76

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

76. In the Judaeo-Christian tradition, the word “creation” has a broader meaning than “nature”, for it has to do with God’s loving plan in which every creature has its own value and significance.

Nature is usually seen as a system which can be studied, understood and controlled, whereas creation can only be understood as a gift from the outstretched hand of the Father of all, and as a reality illuminated by the love which calls us together into universal communion.

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

Saving the environment through dialogue and transparency
The world will continue on “the spiral of self-destruction which currently engulfs us,” says Pope Francis, unless everyone works together to find solutions to the environmental crisis through dialogue and transparency.

Good news: a group of nine older overseas inmates, accused of being drug mules, are about to get bail (a most unusual event for big drug cases). Four of the nine are from Australia, three from the US, one from Holland, one from Ireland.

Two of the nine are in the hospital section of Lai Chi Kok reception centre where conditions are so good (with free medical care) that they prefer to stay there, even though granted bail! (How good are HK prisons!). But the seven others urgently need accommodation in HK.

If anyone can help, please contact me: jdwomi@gmail.com

Background story

	The Book Blog 4 readings + recordings
Readings are from Simple Bible (which has Chinese translation available)

c.f. Readings for "Lent 5"

Isaiah 50.5-9

The Lord has opened my ear to hear his message. The Lord has given me words to proclaim his message.

For my part, I made no resistance,
neither did I turn away.

I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at my beard.

I did not protect my face from insult and spittle.

I set my face like flint.
The Lord will help me.

Jesus, please help me understand how these words refer to you

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.

Thank you, Lord, for all your goodness to me

James 2.14-26

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

Daniel Daring:
Show me Your Faith
The Cross of Christ and a life of worldliness exclude each other. The earlier we realize it, the better.
Chinese text Previous reflections

Mark 8.27-38

One day Jesus asked his disciples "Who do people say I am?"

The disciples replied "Some say you are one of the famous prophets".

Jesus then asked them "And who do you say I am?" Peter answered "You are the Christ".

Jesus then explained to them how he must go to Jerusalem to suffer, die and rise from the dead.

He also said "If you want to be my disciple, you must deny yourself, take up your own cross, and follow me.

Selfishness will ruin your life.
Self-sacrificing will bless your life.

What use is it to have everything in this world yet miss out on Heaven?"

Jesus, please help me find my life by losing it in service of others

Australian bishop testifies on prevalence of child sex abuse in the church

Academic World Ignores Southeast Asia to its Peril
Discourse in the west and Australia about Asia is so dominated by academics and assorted pundits who have or claim expertise on China, that the rest of Asia is often forgotten. In their world only two countries seem to matter, the US and China.

China's Children
A review of Frog by Mo Yan who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2012. Mo Yan’s novel opens in a small country village in Shandong province in 1960, just as the greatest famine in recorded history (it killed perhaps 35 or 40 million people in two or three years) is beginning to let up

Guardian review
China’s brutal one-child policy is the backdrop for Mo Yan’s tale of village life

Recording of 117

Pope Francis: The Joy of the Gospel Full text

117 (b): While it is true that some cultures have been closely associated with the preaching of the Gospel and the development of Christian thought, the revealed message is not identified with any of them; its content is transcultural.

Hence in the evangelization of new cultures, or cultures which have not received the Christian message, it is not essential to impose a specific cultural form, no matter how beautiful or ancient it may be, together with the Gospel.

The message that we proclaim always has a certain cultural dress, but we in the Church can sometimes fall into a needless hallowing of our own culture, and thus show more fanaticism than true evangelizing zeal

A little girl asked her mother,
"How did the human race start?" The mother answered,
"God made Adam and Eve and they had children, and so all mankind was made."
Two days later the girl asked her father the same question. The father answered,
"Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved."
The confused girl returned to her mother and said,
"Mum, how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God,
and Dad said they developed from monkeys?"
The mother answered, "Well, dear, it is very simple.
I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his."

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

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 13th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Mali

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)

Saturday September 12

Yesterday I paid bail for a refugee from Gambia to leave detention until his court date in late November. His charge: working illegally. Last night I better understood why he came to HK from Africa's smallest country when I read this article:

Gambia faces battle to deter its young people from migrating

Receiving visitors in the ‘Republic of Conscience’

Listen
to 75

Pope's letter on climate change:
Laudato Si 我主應受讚美

75. The experience of the Babylonian captivity provoked a spiritual crisis which led to deeper faith in God. Now his creative omnipotence was given pride of place in order to exhort the people to regain their hope in the midst of their wretched predicament.

Centuries later, in another age of trial and persecution, when the Roman Empire was seeking to impose absolute dominion, the faithful would once again find consolation and hope in a growing trust in the all-powerful God: “Great and wonderful are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways!” (Rev 15:3).

The God who created the universe out of nothing can also intervene in this world and overcome every form of evil. Injustice is not invincible.

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

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”
- Martin Luther King Jr.

When citizens of one country extend their friendship to the people of another, at their hour of need, it is always a powerful moment. When freedom-loving people of a country extend support to a freedom loving people of another country fleeing from war and oppression, it is indeed a meaningful moment.

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

Numbers 15-16

Another rebellion broke out when Korah and his group of 250 men rebelled against Moses and Aaron.

This group said “You take too much on yourselves. The whole community is consecrated. How can you say you are more important than the community?”

The next morning this group and other rebels were punished by God: the ground where the Korah group were standing split open
and they disappeared into the hole.

The other rebels died when a fire came down from heaven and consumed them

Dear God, please help people not to rebel against you

Psalm 111

I will thank the Lord with all my heart. Great are the works of the Lord, to be pondered by all who love him.

His goodness stands firm for ever.
The Lord is compassion and love.

His precepts are for all peoples and all times. He is to be honored by all nations.

To love and honor the Lord
is the beginning of wisdom.

Dear Lord, please help me to love and honor you every day

Acts 1.15-26

During these days, Peter spoke to a group of about 120 disciples:
"As you know, Judas hanged himself after betraying Jesus. We must now choose someone to take Judas' place, someone who has been with us since the time when John was baptizing"

Two men were nominated, Joseph and Matthias. After prayer was offered, Matthias was chosen. He was listed as one of the 12 apostles

Jesus, please protect your church from betrayal and disloyalty

Mark 1.35-39

The next morning, long before dawn, Jesus left the house and went off to a lonely place to pray.

When Simon and the other fishermen found him, they said
"Everyone is looking for you".

Jesus replied "We must go to the nearby towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came".

Jesus went all through Galilee,
preaching in the prayer halls and casting out devils.

Jesus, may every town on earth welcome you and hear your message

Pope to visit Kenya, Uganda & Central African Republic in November

Hong Kong-Vietnam human trafficking ring busted, 18 arrested
This is really good news. I've been saddened the past couple of years meeting dozens of Vietnamese in detention after being tricked into coming to HK. Well done, HK authorities!

The refugees in Hungary remind me why I’m still a Zionist

Filipino domestic worker to receive kidney transplant with HK employer’s help

Faster annulments - Building a raft out of the wreckage

Recording of 117

Pope Francis: The Joy of the Gospel Full text

117 (a): When properly understood, cultural diversity is not a threat to Church unity.

The Holy Spirit, sent by the Father and the Son, transforms our hearts and enables us to enter into the perfect communion of the blessed Trinity, where all things find their unity. He builds up the communion and harmony of the people of God. The same Spirit is that harmony, just as he is the bond of love between the Father and the Son. It is he who brings forth a rich variety of gifts, while at the same time creating a unity which is never uniformity but a multifaceted and inviting harmony. Evangelization joyfully acknowledges these varied treasures which the Holy Spirit pours out upon the Church.

We would not do justice to the logic of the Incarnation if we thought of Christianity as monocultural and monotonous.

‘Like a swimming pool’- Mainland netizens marvel at cleanliness of Japanese flood waters

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

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 12th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Guinea-Bissau

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)

Friday September 11

Music "bash" in Temple Street
by doctors, solicitors and other professional people - to support the Sunday night gathering for poor people at St Paul's Yau Ma Tei ! More photos here

Listen
to 73

Pope's letter on climate change:
Laudato Si 我主應受讚美

73. The writings of the prophets invite us to find renewed strength in times of trial by contemplating the all-powerful God who created the universe.

Yet God’s infinite power does not lead us to flee his fatherly tenderness, because in him affection and strength are joined. Indeed, all sound spirituality entails both welcoming divine love and adoration, confident in the Lord because of his infinite power.

In the Bible, the God who liberates and saves is the same God who created the universe, and these two divine ways of acting are intimately and inseparably connected:

“Ah Lord God! It is you who made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you… You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders” (Jer 32:17, 21). “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless” (Is 40:28b-29).

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

Numbers 13-14 (a)

Moses sent some men to reconnoiter the land of Canaan.

After some weeks the men returned and reported that the land was fertile and rich.

But most of the men also said that the towns of Canaan were too well fortified for the Israelites to capture. They said that the Canaanites were too strong for the Israelites.

Only Caleb and Joshua had the trust in God and courage to do battle with the Canaanites.

My recording of this reading

Numbers 13-14 (b)

Just as the rest of the people were thinking of stoning Joshua and Caleb, the glory of God appeared at the Sacred Tent.

God then said that all the men aged twenty and over who had refused to go to Canaan would indeed never see Canaan : they would keep on traveling in the desert until they died.

Canaan would not be entered by the Israelites until all the men aged twenty and over had died,
excepting Caleb and Joshua.

The reconnoiter men who inspired the rebellion were all struck dead that day

Dear God, please give me more courage to face the trials of life,
and don't let me ever discourage other people

Acts 1.12-14

After Jesus went up to heaven from the Mount of Olives, the apostles went back down to Jerusalem, a walk of about half a kilometer

They gathered in an upstairs room which they used as a meeting place. The 11 apostles were Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon and Jude

They spent a long time praying. With them were several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and also Jesus' brothers

Jesus, your apostles' group spent special time in prayer preparing for the coming of the Holy Spirit. I now ask them in heaven to pray that the Holy Spirit will increase his influence in my life

Mark 1.29-34

Jesus went to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever.

Jesus took her by the hand and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve her visitors.

That night all the local sick people were brought to Jesus. He healed many who were suffering from all kinds of diseases. He also cast out many devils.

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

Saudi Arabia bans National Geographic with Pope on cover

Expert raises concern about copycat suicides
- but no criticism of media for ghastly coverage of suicides.

c.f. The reporting of suicide in HK (things have got worse, not better, since this was written)

c.f. Media Watch report from Australia

Refugees. What to do?

Hungarian bishop says pope is wrong about refugees
(...article also says that some people think the bishop is wrong....)

Shanghai Catholics commemorate massive crackdown of 60 years ago

Top female student takes on corruption in Egypt after scoring zero on exams

Pope with new bishops - including my former studetns Bishop Mark Edwards O.M.I. of Melbourne. (but I'm not sure which one is Mark!)

Recording of 116

Pope Francis: The Joy of the Gospel Full text

116 (b): In the diversity of peoples who experience the gift of God, each in accordance with its own culture, the Church expresses her genuine catholicity and shows forth the “beauty of her varied face”.

In the Christian customs of an evangelized people, the Holy Spirit adorns the Church, showing her new aspects of revelation and giving her a new face.

Through inculturation, the Church “introduces peoples, together with their cultures, into her own community”, for “every culture offers positive values and forms which can enrich the way the Gospel is preached, understood and lived”.

In this way, the Church takes up the values of different cultures and becomes sponsa ornata monilibus suis, “the bride bedecked with her jewels” (cf. Is 61:10)”.

Dog breaks record for most balls caught with paws – video

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

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 11th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Eritrea

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)

Thursday September 10 Who was Xu Guangqi? - see below!

Pope's challenge is not just for Europe

How many Catholics in other countries will open their doors to refugees?

How young asylum seekers could save Germany's economy

Listen
to 72

Pope's letter on climate change:
Laudato Si 我主應受讚美

72. The Psalms frequently exhort us to praise God the Creator, “who spread out the earth on the waters, for his steadfast love endures for ever” (Ps 136:6).

They also invite other creatures to join us in this praise: “Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created” (Ps 148:3-5).

We do not only exist by God’s mighty power; we also live with him and beside him. This is why we adore him.

Could this be the start of a new way of thinking? So many countries are demographically in big trouble. Is it possible we could see such countries opening their doors to asylum seekers? (jw)

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

Numbers 12

Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, started complaining against Moses.

So God called Moses, Aaron and Miriam to the Sacred Tent.

God said: "Moses is at home in my house, and I speak with him face to face. You were wrong to speak against my servant Moses".

When God finished speaking, Miriam had become a leper.

Moses pleaded with God for Miriam. Miriam was exiled from the camp for seven days, and then the leprosy left her

Dear God, please help me not to complain so much about other people

Psalms 109-110

O God whom I praise, do not be silent, for people are bombarding me with words of hate.

They speak to me with lying tongues and attack me without cause.

They repay me evil for good. While I pray for them, they show me hatred.

I have become an object of scorn.
Help me, Lord my God.

Lord, when people are unkind to me, please give me the grace to pray for them

Today's Gospel

Acts 1.6-11

On the day he was taken up to heaven, Jesus said to his apostles "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Then you will be my witnesses in every part of the world"

As he said this, he was lifted up while they watched. A cloud took him from their sight

Then two angels appeared to them and said "Jesus who has been taken up from you, will come back some day in the same way as you have seen him leave"

Jesus, help me be your witness by the way I think and speak and live

Today's Gospel

Mark 1.21-28

Jesus and the fishermen went to the town of Capernaum. On the Sabbath Jesus began to teach in the local prayer hall.

The listeners were deeply impressed by Jesus' teaching.
Unlike the religious leaders, Jesus taught with authority.

That very day in the prayer hall there was a man possessed by an evil spirit. The spirit shouted out "Have you come to destroy me, Jesus of Nazareth? I know who you are: the Holy One of God."

Jesus said strongly "Be quiet! Come out of him!" The evil spirit threw the man on the ground and with a loud cry went out of him.

The people in the prayer hall were amazed. They said "Here is a teaching which has authority. Even evil spirits obey him."

Jesus' reputation quickly spread throughout the whole district.

Jesus, Holy One of God, please protect my family from evil

Syrian who fled to Hong Kong applies for asylum seeker status

George Monbiot

Britain’s Mafia State
Wherever you sniff in British public life, something stinks

Vatican refugee family to come from Lampedusa

Australia to take 12,000 Syrian refugees

Gay Activists Need to Get Beyond Blackmail

Famous Chinese Christians

Xu Guangqi (1562-1633) Wikipedia

People are hoping that he and his close friend Matteo Ricci be beatified together

John Allen

Pope’s annulment reform will recalibrate the Synod of Bishops, and more

Recording of 116

Pope Francis: The Joy of the Gospel Full text

116 (a): In the first two Christian millennia, countless peoples have received the grace of faith, brought it to flower in their daily lives and handed it on in the language of their own culture.

Whenever a community receives the message of salvation, the Holy Spirit enriches its culture with the transforming power of the Gospel.

The history of the Church shows that Christianity does not have simply one cultural expression, but rather, “remaining completely true to itself, with unswerving fidelity to the proclamation of the Gospel and the tradition of the Church, it will also reflect the different faces of the cultures and peoples in which it is received and takes root”.

10 years ago today

2005-09-10 Saturday night meal with the poor at Marco Polo Centre + special visitors Bernadette & Clare

And 43 years ago today, Dad went to other side of the veil

Chongqing burglars busted after boastful photo shoot with stolen goods

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

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 10th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Guinea

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)

Wednesday September 9

Yesterday at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre (..prison..) I met dozens of HK's 10,000 asylum seekers. Some of them have been here before ...were sent back to their own countries ....and have now come back to HK. Why HK? Because you don't need a visa ...or ...you can enter illegally. Why come again? Because conditions in their own countries are terrible.

Some of them say that being in prison in HK is better than living in hopeless poverty in places like Bangladesh. c.f. my article in yesterday's Ming Pao paper:
Time for judicial inquiry

Syrian who cried when family got to Greece, now safe in Germany

Listen
to 71

Pope's letter on climate change:
Laudato Si 我主應受讚美

71 (b): After seven weeks of years, which is to say forty-nine years, the Jubilee was celebrated as a year of general forgiveness and “liberty throughout the land for all its inhabitants” (cf. Lev 25:10).

This law came about as an attempt to ensure balance and fairness in their relationships with others and with the land on which they lived and worked.

At the same time, it was an acknowledgment that the gift of the earth with its fruits belongs to everyone. Those who tilled and kept the land were obliged to share its fruits, especially with the poor, with widows, orphans and foreigners in their midst:

“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field to its very border, neither shall you gather the gleanings after the harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner” (Lev 19:9-10).

November 30: Paris Climate Change Summit
- Reasons for hope this time

When I read above and below articles, my first thought was "God will surely bless Germany for its compassion"

Germany says it could take 500,000 refugees a year

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

Numbers 11

Some of the Israelites started complaining about not having meat to eat, only manna.

So God arranged for quails to land near the camp and be easily caught for food.

About this time Moses selected seventy men to help him care for the people.

God blessed the seventy men and they began to prophesy.

Moses said "I wish the whole people of God could be prophets,
and God would give his Spirit to them all".

Dear God, please pour out your Holy Spirit on the whole human family

Psalm 108

My heart is ready, O God. I will sing, sing your praise. Awake, lyre and harp. I will awake the dawn.

I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples, praise you among the nations,

for your love reaches to the heavens and your truth to the skies.

O Lord, come and deliver us today. Help us with your right hand.

Give us help in difficult situations. With your help we shall be brave.

Lord, we need your help every day

Acts 1.1-5

Dear Friend of God, in my first book (the Gospel of Luke) I wrote about everything Jesus did until the day he was taken up to heaven

For 40 days after his death, he appeared to his apostles many times, and taught them about the kingdom of God

He told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for what the Father had promised: "You will soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit"

Jesus, please baptize me with the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, increase your influence in my life

Mark 1.14-20

Jesus went to Galilee and proclaimed the Good News from God. "The time has come" he said "and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News."

As he was walking along by the sea of Galilee, he saw two fishermen Simon and his brother Andrew. Jesus said to them "Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men". Simon and Andrew then followed Jesus.

Going a little further, Jesus saw two more fishermen James and his brother John. He called them also to follow him. They left their nets and boat and followed him.

Jesus, please bless all the people who work full time as "fishers of men"

YouTube- Rembrandt's "Guards of the Night" brought to life

Chris McDonnell (Wed UK blogger)

A never ending road
Many thousands of words have been written in recent days, discussing the plight of refugees from the Middle East , seeking safety in Europe . Yet the impact of some of the photographic images has been so much greater, none more so than that of three year old Aylan Kurdi face down on a Turkish beach, having drowned at sea.

This article also published in The Tablet:
Will a picture wake us from our slumber over refugee crisis?

Spot the difference between Austria and Australia:
Welcome to Australia, where we greet refugees with open arms and hot drinks. Oh wait, that's Austria

John Allen

Why Christianity needs its own Yad Vashem
We need to learn about recent Christian martyrs

China Christians voice concern over punishment proposals

Hu Jintao appears ill at Beijing military parade
(in video of the parade, Hu's left hand could be seen shaking ....Parkinsons?)

Pope reforms Catholic church’s marriage annulment process
Francis issues law allowing for fast-track decisions and for appeals to be judged by local churches rather than the Vatican

Wikipedia Turkmenistan: "Turkmenistan remains one of the world’s most repressive countries. The country is virtually closed to independent scrutiny. Media and religious freedoms are subject to draconian restrictions, and human rights defenders and other activists face the constant threat of government reprisal".

Above words supported by these pages:

Recording of 115

Pope Francis: The Joy of the Gospel Full text

115. The People of God is incarnate in the peoples of the earth, each of which has its own culture.

The concept of culture is valuable for grasping the various expressions of the Christian life present in God’s people. It has to do with the lifestyle of a given society, the specific way in which its members relate to one another, to other creatures and to God.

Understood in this way, culture embraces the totality of a people’s life. Each people in the course of its history develops its culture with legitimate autonomy. This is due to the fact that the human person, “by nature stands completely in need of life in society” and always exists in reference to society, finding there a concrete way of relating to reality. The human person is always situated in a culture: “nature and culture are intimately linked”

Grace supposes culture, and God’s gift becomes flesh in the culture of those who receive it.

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 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 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)

Tuesday September 8 Feast of Birthday of Mary, Mother of Jesus

Very sad YouTube from Chile

Starving toddler drinks
milk from dog

Police at hospital refuse to hand boy over to alcoholic mother

Movement to stop Nestlé from draining public lands dry
in California and worldwide

Listen
to 71

Pope's letter on climate change:
Laudato Si 我主應受讚美

71 (a): Although “the wickedness of people was great in the earth” (Gen 6:5) and the Lord “was sorry that he had made people on the earth” (Gen 6:6), nonetheless, through Noah, who remained innocent and just, God decided to open a path of salvation. In this way he gave humanity the chance of a new beginning. All it takes is one good person to restore hope! (((a good description of Pope Francis himself!)))

The biblical tradition clearly shows that this renewal entails recovering and respecting the rhythms inscribed in nature by the hand of the Creator. We see this, for example, in the law of the Sabbath. On the seventh day, God rested from all his work. He commanded Israel to set aside each seventh day as a day of rest, a Sabbath, (cf. Gen 2:2-3; Ex 16:23; 20:10).

Similarly, every seven years, a sabbatical year was set aside for Israel, a complete rest for the land (cf. Lev 25:1-4), when sowing was forbidden and one reaped only what was necessary to live on and to feed one’s household (cf. Lev 25:4-6).

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

Must admit I'd never heard of polluting plastic microbeads
...until I read the disturbing letter to US senators in this petition

A true story for students who are trying to improve their English:

Some years ago when I was teaching English in Zhaoqing in China's Guangdong Province, I had a regular Saturday night English Corner for older students and adults.

One night a 17 year old girl from Beijing joined the group. She spoke really good English

So I asked her "how come your English is so good?"

She replied that for the past six years she had watched 10-15 minutes of the same DVD each day .... gradually remembering all the dialogue and songs ... gradually able to say and sing along with the DVD

The name of the movie? Mulan - whose English is ideal for English students.

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

For Feast of Birthday of Mary

Micah 5.1-4

The Lord says this: But you, Bethlehem, the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born for me, the one who is to rule over Israel. His origin goes back to the distant past, to the days of old.

The Lord's help will be on hold until the time when she who is to give birth, gives birth.

He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord, with the majesty of the name of his God. He himself will be peace.

Psalm 12

Lord, I trust in your merciful love. Let my heart rejoice in your saving help.

Let me sing to the Lord for his goodness to me, sing psalms to the name of the Lord, the Most High.

Romans 8.28-30

We know that by turning everything to their good, God co-operates with all those who love him, with all those he has called according to his purpose.

They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers and sisters.

He called those he intended for this; those he called, he justified, and with those he justified, he shared his glory.

YouTube: Gentle Woman

Matthew 1.18-25

This is how Jesus came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph.

But before they lived together,
Mary became pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit.

An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said

"Joseph, descendant of David,
do not be afraid to live with Mary as your wife".

Her baby has been conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.
She will give birth to a son.

You must name him 'Jesus' ('God saves') because he will save his people from their sins."

Joseph took Mary to his home as his wife. She gave birth to a son, Jesus.

Dear Jesus, Son of God, son of Mary, step-son of Joseph, please help me understand how you are the Saviour of the world