Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file

171. The strategy of buying and selling “carbon credits” can lead to a new form of speculation which would not help reduce the emission of polluting gases worldwide.

This system seems to provide a quick and easy solution under the guise of a certain commitment to the environment, but in no way does it allow for the radical change which present circumstances require.

Rather, it may simply become a ploy which permits maintaining the excessive consumption of some countries and sectors.

Yesterday as I met the families of seven inmates in HK prisons, I found out that five children of those families would not be returning to school today for the start of the new school year .... because the families could not afford school fees.

Thanks to the kindness of HK friends who are supporting my trip to Kenya and Uganda, all five children will now be at school today!

Jesus, please bless the children .... and the kind friends who are helping them return to school!

1 Samuel 16

The Lord told Samuel to go to Bethlehem and anoint one of Jesse's sons as king.

Samuel anointed Jesse's son David as king.

The spirit of the Lord came down on David and stayed with him from that day on.

Dear God, may your Holy Spirit
come down on more and more people

Psalm 51

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

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

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

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

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

Lord,  you will not spurn a humbled, contrite heart

Recording 

Romans 2.13-19

People become holy in God's sight by doing what is right.
Listening to God's Law is not enough. We have to put it into practice in our lives

Non-Jewish people who follow a good conscience and do what is right, have God's Law engraved on their hearts

What matters is not circumcision of the body, but circumcision of the heart. The real Jew is one who is a Jew in his heart

Jesus, help me to love you with all my heart. May my love for you not be just something external, but something real, in my heart

Recording 

 Luke 8.1-3

Jesus went to many towns and villages, proclaiming the Good News

The 12 apostles went with him, as did a group of women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna and several others

These women used their own money to support Jesus and the apostles

Jesus, thank you for all the women who support the spread of the Good News in today's world

Recording 

 Live A Life That Matters.....

Click on the first picture when it appears and then it will automatically continue from there.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Today's second reading
 can be thus paraphrased

Non-Christian people who follow a good conscience and do what is right, have God's Law engraved on their hearts

What matters is not baptism of the body, but baptism of the heart. The real Christian is one who is a Christian in the heart

195. When Saint Paul approached the apostles in Jerusalem to discern whether he was “running or had run in vain”, the key criterion of authenticity which they presented was that he should not forget the poor.

 This important principle, namely that the Pauline communities should not succumb to the self-centred lifestyle of the pagans, remains timely today, when a new self-centred paganism is growing. 

We may not always be able to reflect adequately the beauty of the Gospel, but there is one sign which we should never lack: the option for those who are least, those whom society discards 

Yesterday at meeting with families of inmates in HK prisons, one lady - who knew I was from Hong Kong - said to me "But you don't look Chinese"!

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

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

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

Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file

170. Some strategies for lowering pollutant gas emissions call for the internationalization of environmental costs, which would risk imposing on countries with fewer resources burdensome commitments to reducing emissions comparable to those of the more industrialized countries. Imposing such measures penalizes those countries most in need of development. 

A further injustice is perpetrated under the guise of protecting the environment. Here also, the poor end up paying the price. Furthermore, since the effects of climate change will be felt for a long time to come, even if stringent measures are taken now, some countries with scarce resources will require assistance in adapting to the effects already being produced, which affect their economies. 

In this context, there is a need for common and differentiated responsibilities. As the bishops of Bolivia have stated, “the countries which have benefited from a high degree of industrialization, at the cost of enormous emissions of greenhouse gases, have a greater responsibility for providing a solution to the problems they have caused”.[127]

Yesterday at Karen shopping centre in Nairobi I met the families of five inmates in HK prisons.

A moving experience, not least because for the families themselves they had a chance to meet other families in the same boat.

Moving also as people recorded messages for HK's Sunday night program "The Hour of Love" which inmates listen to.

One family of three members recorded a message in the morning, and then at about 4.45pm local time heard their message played on "The Hour of Love" - through the internet.

1 Samuel 13-15

Not long after he became king, Saul began doing things that caused Samuel to stop supporting him.

Samuel clearly told Saul what the Lord wanted Saul to do, but Saul insisted on doing things his own way.

Saul seemed more concerned about his own popularity than about being obedient to the Lord.

This displeased the Lord,  and he rejected Saul.

Dear God, please help  us not to disobey you. "Your will be done".
My recording of this reading

Psalms 49-50  

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

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

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

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

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

Lord, please help me understand the meaning of life

Recording 

Romans 1.26-32

Refusing to honor the Creator is why people's behaviour went bad:

why women turned from natural intercourse to unnatural practices, and why men gave up natural intercourse to be consumed with passion for each other, men doing shameless things with men, and getting an appropriate reward for their perversion

Since people refused to honor God, they have dishonored themselves

Jesus,  help  people not be mislead by false teaching which says that a "gay" lifestyle is ok
(See:  "Can Homosexuality Be Healed?", by Francis MacNutt)

Recording 

Luke 7.36-50

A religious leader invited Jesus for a meal. A woman who had a bad name heard that Jesus was at the leader's home

She entered the house and knelt behind Jesus, crying. Her tears fell on Jesus' feet and she wiped them away with her hair. She covered his feet with kisses, and put  ointment on them

The leader was thinking "If Jesus is a prophet, he would know what sort of woman is now touching him"

So Jesus said to the leader "I came into your house and you did not follow the custom of pouring water on my feet. But this woman has poured out her tears on my feet

You gave me no welcoming kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses. You gave me no welcoming oil on my head, but she has anointed my feet

And I tell you that her sins must have been forgiven, or she would not have shown such great love. People who are forgiven little, show  little love"

Jesus, please forgive my sins. Help me show great love

Recording 

With regard to prisoners, it would appear that in many cases practical measures are urgently needed to improve their living conditions, with particular concern for those detained while awaiting trial.[29] It must be kept in mind that penal sanctions have the aim of rehabilitation, while national laws should consider the possibility of other establishing penalties than incarceration. In this context, I would like once more to appeal to governmental authorities to abolish the death penalty where it is still in force, and to consider the possibility of an amnesty.

Nigerian held in Dar over drugs

194. This message is so clear and direct, so simple and eloquent, that no ecclesial interpretation has the right to relativize it. 

The Church’s reflection on these texts ought not to obscure or weaken their force, but urge us to accept their exhortations with courage and zeal. Why complicate something so simple?

 Conceptual tools exist to heighten contact with the realities they seek to explain, not to distance us from them. This is especially the case with those biblical exhortations which summon us so forcefully to brotherly love, to humble and generous service, to justice and mercy towards the poor. 

Jesus taught us this way of looking at others by his words and his actions. So why cloud something so clear? We should not be concerned simply about falling into doctrinal error, but about remaining faithful to this light-filled path of life and wisdom. For “defenders of orthodoxy are sometimes accused of passivity, indulgence, or culpable complicity regarding the intolerable situations of injustice and the political regimes which prolong them”.

One inmate's brother in law who I met yesterday, when I asked him what was his job,  replied "My field of work is electrical engineering"

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

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

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

Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file   

168. Among positive experiences in this regard, we might mention, for example, the Basel Convention on hazardous wastes, with its system of reporting, standards and controls.

There is also the binding Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, which includes on-site visits for verifying effective compliance. 

Thanks to the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer and its implementation through the Montreal Protocol and amendments, the problem of the layer’s thinning seems to have entered a phase of resolution.

Yesterday was mostly spent on the road: a one hour trip from Karen to the centre of Nairobi, then a six hour trip to Meru (north east of Nairobi) where the Oblates have had a mission for almost 20 years.

What a beautiful country Kenya is! Countryside reminds me of Northern New South Wales in Australia.

Today I'm due to join Fr Faustin O.M.I. for two Masses in a local prison.

c.f. readings for Jan 1, the Feast of Mary, Mother of God

Numbers 6:

God said to Moses and Aaron: "This is how you are to bless the people. Say to them:

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord let his face shine on you  and be gracious to you. May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace."

Dear God, please bless everyone in the world

Recording of this reading 

Psalm 66 :

O God, be gracious and bless us and let your face shine its light upon us.

Let all the peoples praise you, O God. Let all the peoples praise you.

O sing to the Lord, make music to his name. Rejoice in the Lord, exult at his presence.

Father of the orphan, defender of the widow, God provides a shelter for the homeless.

God gives his people strength.

May all the peoples of the earth know you and praise you, O God

Recording   

Galatians 4.4-6:

When the appointed time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law, and to enable us to be adopted as children of God, brothers and sisters of his Son

The proof that we are children is that God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts: the Spirit that cries "Abba, Father"

Jesus, help me understand how I have been adopted,
how you are my Brother

Recording   

Luke 2.21:

When the eighth day came and the child was to be circumcised, they gave him the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him before his conception.

"Jesus", "God saves", you are our Saviour

Recording    

Daniel Daring 
The Mother of God Incarnate

The word 'blessing' is disappearing from our vocabulary. We seldom bless and wish a blessing. We say ‘good luck’ instead of ‘Godspeed’ and ‘all the best’ instead of ‘God bless’. Why?    Chinese text

Last night I had wifi connection problems. Some items held over for a future menu ...when internet can be accessed easily. Email replies will be slow for the same reason. Might have to wait till back in Nairobi on Saturday night please God (Jan 2)

193 (b): The Gospel tells us: “Blessed are the merciful, because they shall obtain mercy” (Mt 5:7). The apostle James teaches that our mercy to others will vindicate us on the day of God’s judgment: “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy, yet mercy triumphs over judgment” (Jas 2:12 -13). 

Here James is faithful to the finest tradition of post-exilic Jewish spirituality, which attributed a particular salutary value to mercy: “Break off your sins by practising righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your tranquillity” (Dan 4:27 ).

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 1st of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Anhui

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 1st of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Congo

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)

Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file

167. The 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro is worth mentioning. It proclaimed that “human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development”.[126]

 Echoing the 1972 Stockholm Declaration, it enshrined international cooperation to care for the ecosystem of the entire earth, the obligation of those who cause pollution to assume its costs, and the duty to assess the environmental impact of given projects and works.

It set the goal of limiting greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere, in an effort to reverse the trend of global warming. It also drew up an agenda with an action plan and a convention on biodiversity, and stated principles regarding forests. 

Although the summit was a real step forward, and prophetic for its time, its accords have been poorly implemented, due to the lack of suitable mechanisms for oversight, periodic review and penalties in cases of non-compliance. The principles which it proclaimed still await an efficient and flexible means of practical implementation.

Yesterday in Nairobi, Fr Mario kindly continued my Kenya orientation ....and helped me find a place where from today I can start meeting families of Kenyan inmates in HK prisons.

We went yesterday to two shopping centres, and had to pass through (superficial?) security checks at the entrances of both

Fr Mario says that people here of all persuasions - Muslims as well as Christians - are fed up with the terror tactics of Al Shabaab (which explains the incredible courage of Muslims on a bus recently to protect Christians when the bus was attacked by Al Shabaab) 

1 Samuel 11

The people of Jabesh-gilead told Saul that the Ammonites were threatening them.

The spirit of the Lord stirred up Saul and he led the Israelites to a great victory over the Ammonites.

Samuel and all the people then went to Gilgal where Saul was again proclaimed king.

Dear Lord, may your Spirit stir us up to do good things

Psalm 46

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

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

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

Come and consider the works of the Lord and always remember his words:

"Be still and know that I am God".

Lord, help us to be more aware of your presence, especially when we are in trouble
Recording  

(c.f. YouTube:  famous hymn by Martin Luther A Mighty Fortress is our God,  and also the hymn Be Still and Know that I am God)

Romans 1.8-16

I thank God for the way people everywhere speak of your faith

I never fail to mention you in my prayers. I pray for the opportunity to visit you if God wills

I long to see you to encourage you and to be encouraged by you

For I am not ashamed of the Good News. It is the power of God saving everyone who has faith, Jews first then everyone else

Jesus, help me to pray for others the way Paul prayed for others

Recording 

Luke 7.11-17

Jesus and his disciples went to a town called Nain.  Many other people went with them. As they reached the town, a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow

When the Lord saw her, he felt sorry for her. "Do not cry" he said. Then he said "Young man, I tell you to get up"

The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother

Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying "A great prophet has appeared among us. God has visited his people"

Jesus, please give me the faith to pray that dead people will come back to life - you who once told your disciples "to raise the dead"

Recording 

Chris McDonnell (Wed UK blogger) 

A snug fit

 Sometimes we make a contact with others that is smooth and comfortable, at other times, spiky and edgy. But that is the nature of human relationships. Our understanding of each other, our tolerance and appreciation shows enormous variance. In spite of everything we are part of a pilgrim church and we must do our best together.  

John Allen

Joan Chittister

193. We incarnate the duty of hearing the cry of the poor when we are deeply moved by the suffering of others.  Let us listen to what God’s word teaches us about mercy, and allow that word to resound in the life of the Church.

Yesterday as part of my Kenya orientation, Fr Mario introduced me to the local beer, appropriately named "Tusker"!

YouTube - brilliant!
Lisbon Soccer Match - Pre Game Instructions

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 30th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shanghai

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 30th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Haiti

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)

Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file

166. Worldwide, the ecological movement has made significant advances, thanks also to the efforts of many organizations of civil society. It is impossible here to mention them all, or to review the history of their contributions. 

But thanks to their efforts, environmental questions have increasingly found a place on public agendas and encouraged more far-sighted approaches. This notwithstanding, recent World Summits on the environment have not lived up to expectations because, due to lack of political will, they were unable to reach truly meaningful and effective global agreements on the environment.

Hello from Nairobi in Kenya where I arrived yesterday about 1.30 pm local time after flight from HK to Doha (Qatar), then flight from Doha to Nairobi

Fr Mario Azrak O.M.I. from Australia kindly met me at the airport, and I'm now enjoying Oblate hospitality in a lovely rural setting in Karen on the outskirts of Nairobi.

1 Samuel 9-10

Among the men of the tribe of Benjamin there was a very tall and very handsome man named Saul.

Once when he went in search of his father's stray donkeys, he met up with Samuel.

The Lord had told Samuel that he would meet Saul, and that he should be anointed as king.

And so Samuel took some oil and poured it on Saul's head. He told Saul that the Lord had chosen him to be king.

Samuel presented Saul to the people. The people acclaimed Saul saying "Long live the king!"

Dear Lord, please protect and guide all people in authority

Psalms 42-45

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

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

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

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

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

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

Recording 

 Luke 7.1-10 (a)

Jesus went to the town of Capernaum. In the town there was a Roman soldier, a centurion, who had a dear servant who was sick and close to death

Having heard about Jesus, the centurion sent some Jewish friends to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant

The Jewish friends said to Jesus "He deserves this of you. He is friendly to our people. He is the one who built our prayer hall"

Recording 

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

Luke 7.1-10 (b)

Jesus went with them,  but before they reached the house the centurion sent some servants with the message "Sir, I am not worthy to receive you into my house. This is why I didn't come to you personally.  Just say a word, and my servant will be healed"

When Jesus heard these words, he said to the crowd following him "I have not found faith as great as this man's"

When the messengers got back to the house, they saw that the servant was healed and in perfect health

"Jesus,  I am not worthy to receive you.  Say but the word and I shall be healed"  (prayer from Communion service)

Recording 

Kenyans are more tolerant than their government and Al-Shabaab

192. Yet we desire even more than this; our dream soars higher. We are not simply talking about ensuring nourishment or a “dignified sustenance” for all people, but also their “general temporal welfare and prosperity”.

 This means education, access to health care, and above all employment, for it is through free, creative, participatory and mutually supportive labour that human beings express and enhance the dignity of their lives. A just wage enables them to have adequate access

Last Sunday night in HK as I waited at a bus stop for an airport bus, an enterprising taxi driver pulled up at the stop and through his open window called out to me "airport $200".  At which I showed him my Octopus travel card and said "$2"!

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 29th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Chongqing

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 29th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Mauritania

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)

Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file

165. We know that technology based on the use of highly polluting fossil fuels – especially coal, but also oil and, to a lesser degree, gas – needs to be progressively replaced without delay. 

Until greater progress is made in developing widely accessible sources of renewable energy, it is legitimate to choose the less harmful alternative or to find short-term solutions. 

But the international community has still not reached adequate agreements about the responsibility for paying the costs of this energy transition. In recent decades, environmental issues have given rise to considerable public debate and have elicited a variety of committed and generous civic responses. Politics and business have been slow to react in a way commensurate with the urgency of the challenges facing our world. Although the post-industrial period may well be remembered as one of the most irresponsible in history, nonetheless there is reason to hope that humanity at the dawn of the twenty-first century will be remembered for having generously shouldered its grave responsibilities.

Please God, as you read this I am now on a plane on the way to Kenya. Due back HK January 24. A working holiday (like last year) to try to a little bit for people who are poor - in this case the families of prisoners in HK. 

After a rest day or two I hope to start meeting some of the 41 Kenyan and Ugandan families that inmates in HK have asked me to meet.

I'll try to put a report, with photos if convenient, on this site each day. Thank you for a prayer.

1 Samuel 8

When Samuel grew old, the people asked him to find someone
to be their king.

Samuel was not happy that the people asked for a king. Samuel also warned the people that a king would impose taxes and have many rights over them.

But the people insisted on having a king.

The Lord then told Samuel to give the people a king.

Dear God, you are our only true King

My recording of this reading

Psalm 41 

Blessed the person who helps the poor and the weak. 

He himself will be helped by the Lord when he is sick and in trouble.

The Lord will help him on his bed of pain.

The Lord will bring him back from sickness to health.

Lord, please help me to do more for the poor

Recording 

Today's Gospel

Romans 1.1-7

From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, who has been called to be an apostle, and specially chosen to preach the Good News

This news is about the Son of God who, according to the human nature he took, was a descendant of David

This news is about Jesus Christ our Lord who, by his resurrection from the dead, proved he was the Son of God

From him I received my mission to preach the obedience of faith to non-Jewish nations

You are one of these nations. You belong to Jesus Christ

To you who are God's beloved friends in Rome, may God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give grace and peace

Jesus, Son of God,  may all nations know and love you

Recording 

For today's Feast of the Holy Innocents:

Matthew 2.13-23

After the wise men left Bethlehem, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said "Go quickly to Egypt, because Herod wants to kill the child".

That same night, Joseph got up
and set out for Egypt with Mary and Jesus.

Herod was angry after being tricked by the wise men. He got his soldiers to kill all baby boys two years old or younger in Bethlehem.

After Herod died some months later, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to return to Israel.

Joseph, Mary and Jesus moved to the town of Nazareth, thus fulfilling the prophecy about the Saviour: "He will be called a Nazarene".

Jesus, you were once a refugee.
Please bless all refugees in the world today  

Recording 

The Roman emperor Nero was, until recently, history’s one undisputed example of homosexual "marriage".

Dec 28

191. In all places and circumstances, Christians, with the help of their pastors, are called to hear the cry of the poor.

 This has been eloquently stated by the bishops of Brazil : “We wish to take up daily the joys and hopes, the difficulties and sorrows of the Brazilian people, especially of those living in the barrios and the countryside – landless, homeless, lacking food and health care – to the detriment of their rights. Seeing their poverty, hearing their cries and knowing their sufferings, we are scandalized because we know that there is enough food for everyone and that hunger is the result of a poor distribution of goods and income. The problem is made worse by the generalized practice of wastefulness”.

10 years ago today

2005-12-26 to 31- Visit to poor areas & CAS by Macau friends Ben, Clara, Daisy, Joseph, Loretta & Rocco

It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake , was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me. 'Is that a dog you got back there?' he asked. 'It sure is,' I replied. Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van. Finally he said, 'What'd he do?'

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 28th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Beijing

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 28th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Lesotho

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)

Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file   

163. So far I have attempted to take stock of our present situation, pointing to the cracks in the planet that we inhabit as well as to the profoundly human causes of environmental degradation.

Although the contemplation of this reality in itself has already shown the need for a change of direction and other courses of action, now we shall try to outline the major paths of dialogue which can help us escape the spiral of self-destruction which currently engulfs us.

Christmas Flash Mob - YouTube

c.f. readings for Dec 25 

Recording of this reading 

Psalm 97:

The Lord is king, let earth rejoice,
the many coastlands be glad.

Cloud and darkness are his robes.
His throne is justice and goodness.

The skies proclaim his goodness.
All peoples see his glory. Let those who serve idols be ashamed. Let all creation worship  the Creator.

Light shines forth for good people
and joy for the upright of heart.

Rejoice in the Lord, all good people. Give glory to his holy name.

Lord, you indeed are God of the universe

Recording   

Daniel Daring:

Emmanuel - Christmas
The celebration of Christmas does not take place in churches but in malls. “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him”  Chinese text

Titus 3:1-7:

Remind everyone to be obedient to government officials; to be ready to do good at every opportunity; not to go slandering other people or picking quarrels; to be courteous and polite to everyone

There was a time when we too were ignorant; when we lived in wickedness and ill-will, hating each other and hateful ourselves

But then the kindness and love of God our Saviour were revealed, and God saved us because of his compassion

God saved us by the cleansing water of rebirth, and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit whom he has poured over us through Jesus Christ our Saviour

So we are justified by his grace, and look forward to eternal life

Jesus, Saviour of the world, you are our Saviour

Recording  

Luke 2.15-20

After the angels went away, the shepherds said to one another
"Let's go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about"

So they quickly went and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. People who heard the shepherds talk about the angels were amazed

As for Mary, she treasured every moment of what had happened
and pondered the whole event in her heart

The shepherds went back to their fields glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen

Jesus we adore you, Jesus we adore you, Jesus we adore you, 
Christ the Lord

Recording    

On the other hand:
When Kenyan Muslims drew a red line

Unprecedented seat change highlights ‘subordinate’ role for HK

Prison Reform Trust writing competition 2015: hopeful words after a tough year

189. Solidarity is a spontaneous reaction by those who recognize that the social function of property and the universal destination of goods are realities which come before private property.

 The private ownership of goods is justified by the need to protect and increase them, so that they can better serve the common good; for this reason, solidarity must be lived as the decision to restore to the poor what belongs to them.

 These convictions and habits of solidarity, when they are put into practice, open the way to other structural transformations and make them possible.

 Changing structures without generating new convictions and attitudes will only ensure that those same structures will become, sooner or later, corrupt, oppressive and ineffectual.

10 years ago today

2005-12-25 Christmas Day- church, Christmas Dinner at Area K, concert at Area D community centre

A man wandered into a doctor's consulting rooms and asked if could see the doctor. The receptionist was hesitant to let him in, especially as it was Christmas Eve  and she was waiting to turn off  the Christmas lights in the waiting room and go home; but he was very insistent. So the Doctor, having had completed all his consultations for the day and feeling in a 'good will to men' mood, agreed to see him.

The man entered in a rather aimless manner and after some hesitation flopped into a chair and looked nervously around the room.

"How can I help you?" said the doctor.

"Well, it's like this" said the man. "I keep thinking I'm a moth".

"A moth?"

"Yes" the man replied. "I'm convinced that I'm a moth".

"Well I'm very sorry, but you're in the wrong place. What you need is a psychiatrist". 

"That's what I've been thinking" replied the man .

"Well, as it happens, I know just the man". said the doctor "I'll give him a call and see if he can fix an appointment for you after the holiday."

The man agreed and the doctor made the appointment.

"Tell me" said the doctor "It must have been very apparent from the sign outside that I'm a general practitioner. So if you already know you need to see a psychiatrist, why did you come in?"

"Well" the man said in a resigned voice "The door was open and the lights were on .....".

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 25th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Ningxia

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 25th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Comoros

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)

Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file

162 (b): Furthermore, our inability to think seriously about future generations is linked to our inability to broaden the scope of our present interests and to give consideration to those who remain excluded from development.

Let us not only keep the poor of the future in mind, but also today’s poor, whose life on this earth is brief and who cannot keep on waiting.

Hence, “in addition to a fairer sense of intergenerational solidarity there is also an urgent moral need for a renewed sense of intragenerational solidarity”.[125]

In total, 39 inmates from HK's prisons have asked me to contact their families. Going to be a busy but happy time, please God. 

Kenyan and Ugandan consulates have been most encouraging. I also hope visit can promote PTA (prisoner transfer agreements) with HK

c.f. midnight Mass readings 

Isaiah 9:

The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light. On those who live in a land of deep shadow, a light has shone.

For the yoke that was weighing on them, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken and removed.

For there is a child born for us,
a son given to us, and dominion is laid on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonder-Counselor, Mighty-God,
Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace.

Jesus, Prince of Peace, thank you for the peace and hope and joy of your friendship

Titus 2:

God's grace has made salvation available for the whole human race. 

We must give up everything that does not lead to God. We must delete our worldly ambitions. We must be self-restrained and live good lives here in this present world, while we wait in hope for the blessings that will come with the Coming of the glory of our God and savior Christ Jesus

He sacrificed himself for us in order to set us free from wickedness, and to purify us so that we would have no ambition except to do good

Jesus, please help me give up everything that does not lead to you

Recording

Luke 2.1-7 :

Recording  

Luke 2.8-14:

Recording 

YouTube - brilliant!

The Christmas Scale

188. The Church has realized that the need to heed this plea is itself born of the liberating action of grace within each of us, and thus it is not a question of a mission reserved only to a few: “The Church, guided by the Gospel of mercy and by love for mankind, hears the cry for justice and intends to respond to it with all her might”.

 In this context we can understand Jesus’ command to his disciples: “You yourselves give them something to eat!”: it means working to eliminate the structural causes of poverty and to promote the integral development of the poor, as well as small daily acts of solidarity in meeting the real needs which we encounter.

 The word “solidarity” is a little worn and at times poorly understood, but it refers to something more than a few sporadic acts of generosity. It presumes the creation of a new mindset which thinks in terms of community and the priority of the life of all over the appropriation of goods by a few.

10 years ago today

2005-12-24 Christmas Eve Dinner for migrant worker families at Marco Polo, with HK special friends Ah Yau, Dorothy, Mavis & Tracy

2005-12-24 CAS end of semester Christmas Dinner for overseas staff + welcome back Liam + CAS secondary Christmas parties

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 24th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Inner Mongolia

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 24th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Zambia

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)