Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file

I'm now starting to meet a new type of prison inmate: HK democracy/independence activists! ... about whom one sad fact stands out: some of them feel that China will not change peacefully, only by violence, as has been true for most of its history.

In discussions with one such inmate, I held up the example of Deng Xiao Ping who brought about huge change ... peacefully. But the inmate didn't agree. 

May the Good Lord raise up more Deng Xiao Pings in China!

Speaking of democracy .... the sad situation in the Philippines (.."Detergent"...) and the US ("Thump") brings to mind the famous words 200 years ago of a French writer, Joseph de Maistre: Every nation gets the government it deserves.

Jesus, please give the world better leaders!

Ezekiel 35-48

Through Ezekiel, God kept calling on the people to turn from their sins and remember their Creator.

God said he would bring back Israel's exiles to their homeland.
He would give them a new start in life, like a skeleton coming back to life.

God said the people would re-build the Temple in Jerusalem,
and religious practice would once again flourish.

The people would once again remember God. The people would once again be blessed by the Lord.

Lord, please help nations which have forgotten you to come back to you

Psalm 78 (a)

Listen, everyone, to my teaching.
I will recount the lessons of our history.

The things our parents have told us, we will not hide from our children, but will pass them on to the next generation.

We want the next generation to know all that the Lord has done for us in the past.

May the next generation in turn
pass on this knowledge to their own children, so that they too will put their hope in God and never forget all that God has done for us.

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

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

Recording 

 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

Recording 

When we fall down, God helps us up ...like a mother or father helping a child who has fallen over....no matter how many falls. So God helped his "skeleton" people to get up (Ezekiel), he kept on forgiving them and sparing them (Psalm 78) .... such helping up symbolised by Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law and helping her up (Mark).
A beautiful YouTube for today - You Raise Me Up

The Joy of Love - Pope Francis' letter - on love in the family      Full English text

185: Recording

Along these same lines, we do well to take seriously a biblical text usually interpreted outside of its context or in a generic sense, with the risk of overlooking its immediate and direct meaning, which is markedly social.

I am speaking of 1 Cor 11:17-34, where Saint Paul faces a shameful situation in the community.

The wealthier members tended to discriminate against the poorer ones, and this carried over even to the agape meal that accompanied the celebration of the Eucharist. While the rich enjoyed their food, the poor looked on and went hungry: “One is hungry and another is drunk. Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the Church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?” (vv. 21-22).

175: Recording

The same mindset which stands in the way of making radical decisions to reverse the trend of global warming also stands in the way of achieving the goal of eliminating poverty.

A more responsible overall approach is needed to deal with both problems: the reduction of pollution and the development of poorer countries and regions. 

The twenty-first century, while maintaining systems of governance inherited from the past, is witnessing a weakening of the power of nation states, chiefly because the economic and financial sectors, being transnational, tend to prevail over the political. Given this situation, it is essential to devise stronger and more efficiently organized international institutions, with functionaries who are appointed fairly by agreement among national governments, and empowered to impose sanctions. 

As Benedict XVI has affirmed in continuity with the social teaching of the Church: “To manage the global economy; to revive economies hit by the crisis; to avoid any deterioration of the present crisis and the greater imbalances that would result; to bring about integral and timely disarmament, food security and peace; to guarantee the protection of the environment and to regulate migration: for all this, there is urgent need of a true world political authority, as my predecessor Blessed John XXIII indicated some years ago”.[129]  

Diplomacy also takes on new importance in the work of developing international strategies which can anticipate serious problems affecting us all. 

178: Recording 

To believe in a Father who loves all men and women with an infinite love means realizing that “he thereby confers upon them an infinite dignity”.

 To believe that the Son of God assumed our human flesh means that each human person has been taken up into the very heart of God.

To believe that Jesus shed his blood for us removes any doubt about the boundless love which ennobles each human being

At Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution yesterday I planned to see two special inmates, both local HK men, as I visited all inmates in all rooms. At one stage I was sitting opposite one of the two inmates, but at first did not recognize him! He'd had a short haircut ....and, as usual when he spends time in detention (.. he has been many times..) he looked much healthier and younger!

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 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, please pacify Boko Haram 

Letters from (mainly African) inmates in Hong Kong prisons - and other drug trafficking items:   2016

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

End the shameful inequality in Hong Kong and raise the minimum wage to HK$64 – HK$95 per hour

An English translation (thank you Teresa!) of the September 11 Oriental Daily report on this website's anti-drug campaign is now available Here (Sep 11, scroll down)  

 
Kenyan women being recruited as mules by Nigerian drug lords

New article in Nairobi News - see my comment (awaiting moderation)

Salve Regina sung by Oblates inside the Vatican  (YouTube)

Pope to O.M.I. Chapter- ‘Embrace the poor with new missionary drive’ 

O.M.I. in list of new cardinals:
Archbishop Khoarai, Bishop Emeritus of Mohale’s Hoek, Lesotho (in list, see why an elderly Albanian priest was made a cardinal!)

Ezekiel 19-32

Ezekiel continued to speak God's message:

"Since my people have forgotten me and followed false ways,
therefore they will be scattered around the world.

But eventually my people and peoples of all nations will learn that I alone am their Creator, their God.

Lord, please help all peoples know and love you

My recording of this reading

Psalms 73-77

Sometimes when I see how bad people prosper, I wonder what's the use in trying to be good?

But then I realize that everyone someday has to pay the bill for any evil they have bought in the world.

Sometimes when I see our world  and religion in ruins, I wonder why has God abandoned us?

Then I remember that God has promised to break the power of the wicked. He has promised to give strength to good people.

So may all people honor the Lord our God and judge. May the Lord give us his loving help.

Lord, you are goodness itself. Please help us to be good and to trust you always

Recording 

Revelation 3.14-17

He gave me this message for the church in Laodicea:

"You are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other.
But since you are lukewarm, you are cutting yourself off from me

You are rich in this word's goods, but you are spiritually poor

Listen to this message and repent"

Jesus, please don't ever let me become a lukewarm Christian

Recording 

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

Recording 

Compromise is often a good thing - to avoid arguments and conflict. But any compromise with evil means sowing the seeds of disaster ...as happened to the Jewish people, causing their captivity in Babylon (Ezekiel) ... as happens for seemingly successful bad people (Psalms 73-77) ... cutting us off from the Lord of Life (Revelation) ....leaving us open to the influence of Satan and Co. (Mark)

c.f. Bonhoeffer’s Message: No Compromise with Evil - as he attacked the timidity of German churches for compromising with the campaign of Hitler

We have only one heart, and the same wretchedness which leads us to mistreat an animal will not be long in showing itself in our relationships with other people. Every act of cruelty towards any creature is “contrary to human dignity” - Pope Francis, Laudato Si, No. 92

The Joy of Love - Pope Francis' letter - on love in the family     Full English text

184: Recording

By their witness as well as their words, families speak to others of Jesus. 

They pass on the faith, they arouse a desire for God and they reflect the beauty of the Gospel and its way of life. 

Christian marriages thus enliven society by their witness of fraternity, their social concern, their outspokenness on behalf of the underprivileged, their luminous faith and their active hope.

Their fruitfulness expands and in countless ways makes God’s love present in society.

Update from 
Sr. Anastasia, M.M. (黄修女）

Information: Links about Global Consciousness, Neuroscience and Neurotheology

Fr Ron Rolheiser O.M.I. 

174: Recording

Let us also mention the system of governance of the oceans. 

International and regional conventions do exist, but fragmentation and the lack of strict mechanisms of regulation, control and penalization end up undermining these efforts. 

The growing problem of marine waste and the protection of the open seas represent particular challenges. What is needed, in effect, is an agreement on systems of governance for the whole range of so-called “global commons”.

177: Recording

The kerygma has a clear social content:
at the very heart of the Gospel is life in community and engagement with others.

The content of the first proclamation has an immediate moral implication centred on charity

The little boy wasn't getting good marks in school. One day he made the teacher quite surprised. He tapped her on the shoulder and said ..."I don't want to scare you, but my daddy says if I don't get better grades, somebody is going to get a spanking."

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 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 ISIS 

Letters from (mainly African) inmates in Hong Kong prisons - and other drug trafficking items:   2016

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

To go with today's Gospel!
     

 Letters from two South African women in prison in HK for drug trafficking - after being tricked and coerced by Nigerian man in HK ...) Here (Oct 1 and Oct 2)

Extensive report from ABC: 

Chinese Communist Party prepares crackdown on Christianity

Good News for the Poor is now available in Chichewa, the main language of Malawi - Here (with original English)

c.f. Readings for "Sunday 28"

2 Kings 5

Naaman was an army commander for the king of Aram. Naaman enjoyed success and favor, but he was a leper.

He heard about Elisha and the king sent him to Elisha with  gifts of gold, silver and garments to request healing.

When Naaman reached Elisha's house, Elisha sent him a message: "Bathe 7 times in the Jordan River."

At first Naaman was angry at this message, having expected Elisha to see and heal him personally.

But then he humbly bathed 7 times in the Jordan and his flesh became clean once more.

Elisha declined Naaman's gifts.
But after Naaman left Elisha, Elisha's servant Gehazi caught up with Naaman and deceitfully obtained some silver.

Elisha confronted Gehazi about this and Gehazi became a leper.

Dear God, please heal everyone who has leprosy

My recording of this reading

Psalm 98

Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders. His right hand has brought salvation.

The Lord has made known his salvation. He has shown his justice to the nations.

He has remembered his truth and love for the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord all the earth, ring out your joy.

Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp, with the sound of music.

Let the sea, the world and all peoples acclaim the King, the Lord.

Let the rivers clap their hands
and the hills ring out their joy at the presence of the Lord, for he comes to rule the earth.

He will rule the world with justice and the peoples with fairness.

Lord, may all peoples in all countries know your love and goodness

Recording 

2 Timothy 2.2-9

You have heard everything I teach in public. Hand it on to reliable people so that they in turn will be able to teach others

Put up with your share of difficulties like a good soldier of Christ Jesus, like an athlete who keeps all the rules, like a hard-working farmer

Remember the Good News that I carry: "Jesus Christ risen from the dead, sprung from the race of David"

On account of this Good News I am chained up like a criminal.
But no-one can chain up the Good News

Jesus, help people who are in prison on account of the Good News

Recording  

Luke 17.11-19

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus entered a village where 10 lepers came to meet him. They stood at a distance and called out "Jesus, Master, take pity on us!"

Jesus said to them "Go and show yourselves to the priests".

As they went away, their leprosy disappeared.

Seeing that he was healed, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him.

This made Jesus say "Were not all 10 healed? Where are the 9 others?"

Jesus, please don't let me forget to say "thank you" when someone helps me

Recording  

YouTube  - words and music:

10 Unclean and Nowhere to go 

When someone cooks a meal for us, or invites us for a meal: "Thank you". Whenever someone does something good or helpful for us: "Thank you".  Obvious, but going out of fashion. c.f.  'Thank you' may be going out of fashion - but I'm cool with 'cheers' if it's from the heart.  And c.f. 183, below: social mores show signs of degradation

The Joy of Love - Pope Francis' letter - on love in the family      Full English text

183: Recording

A married couple who experience the power of love know that this love is called to bind the wounds of the outcast, to foster a culture of encounter and to fight for justice. 

God has given the family the job of “domesticating” the world and helping each person to see fellow human beings as brothers and sisters.

“An attentive look at the everyday life of today’s men and women immediately shows the omnipresent need for a healthy injection of family spirit… Not only is the organization of ordinary life increasingly thwarted by a bureaucracy completely removed from fundamental human bonds, but even social and political mores show signs of degradation”.

For their part, open and caring families find a place for the poor and build friendships with those less fortunate than themselves. In their efforts to live according to the Gospel, they are mindful of Jesus’ words: “As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me (Mt 25:40)”. 

In a very real way, their lives express what is asked of us all: “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbours, lest they also invite you in return, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed” (Lk 14:12-14). You will be blessed! Here is the secret to a happy family.

 How I Went From Inmate To CEO

173: Recording

Enforceable international agreements are urgently needed, since local authorities are not always capable of effective intervention. 

Relations between states must be respectful of each other’s sovereignty, but must also lay down mutually agreed means of averting regional disasters which would eventually affect everyone. 

Global regulatory norms are needed to impose obligations and prevent unacceptable actions, for example, when powerful companies or countries dump contaminated waste or offshore polluting industries in other countries

176: Recording

To evangelize is to make the kingdom of God present in our world. Yet “any partial or fragmentary definition which attempts to render the reality of evangelization in all its richness, complexity and dynamism does so only at the risk of impoverishing it and even of distorting it”.

 I would now like to share my concerns about the social dimension of evangelization, precisely because if this dimension is not properly brought out, there is a constant risk of distorting the authentic and integral meaning of the mission of evangelization. 

10 years ago
 today

2006-10-09 HK Rosa C visiting poor people in Area C  + toe in need of surgery

2006-10-09 CAS Primary 6B & 6C  - really good students

Two of HK's biggest drug lords use the names "Happy" and "Lucky". Yesterday I heard an inmate who is one of Happy's coerced/tricked victims saying it would be good if Happy and Lucky could both be behind bars ...with new names: "Unhappy" and "Unlucky"!

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 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 bless all Muslims in my own country 

Letters from (mainly African) inmates in Hong Kong prisons - and other drug trafficking items:   2016

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

Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file

Hongkongers arrested in Manila airport drug bust netting 28kg of cocaine worth HK$22 million

!!!Pope to O.M.I. Chapter- ‘Embrace the poor with new missionary drive’  

A new story - Phoebe

Updated - Esther

Ezekiel 12-18

Ezekiel spoke God's message for the false prophets:

"You have misled my people. You have not bothered to protect my people".

Ezekiel also called on the people to stop their idolatry. He reminded them how to follow the Lord:

- A good person is law-abiding and honest.
- A good person oppresses no one, never steals.
- a good person gives food and clothing to the poor.

"God takes no delight in the death of a sinner. God hopes the sinner will renounce wickedness and live."

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

My recording of this reading

Psalm 72

O Lord, please bless the king, that he might serve your people with justice.

May the mountains bring forth peace for the people and the hills, justice.

The kings of Sheba and Seba bring him gifts. All nations will serve him.

He will save the poor when they cry for help and the needy who are helpless.

He will have pity on the weak and save the lives of the poor.

May every tribe be blessed in him. May every nation bless his name.

May all the nations know and love you, Lord

Recording  

Revelation 3.7-9

He gave me this message for the church in Philadelphia:

"I am opening a new door of opportunity for you to spread the Good News

I will move people to accept the Good News from you. I will keep you safe in time of trial"

Jesus, please give me more opportunities to spread the Good News

Recording   

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"

Recording  

In the face of an increase, not decrease, of selfishness and injustice and poverty in the world, what can we do?  We  can do out bit to try to be good people ourselves (as in Ezekiel) ... and also we can do our bit to try to spread the Good News of Jesus (Revelation and Gospel). Then we offer our "loaves and fish" to Jesus and ask his blessing.

Fr Frank Brennan S.J.

Australia's policy is a disgrace

The Joy of Love - Pope Francis' letter - on love in the family      Full English text

182: Recording

No family can be fruitful if it sees itself as overly different or “set apart”.

To avoid this risk, we should remember that Jesus’ own family, so full of grace and wisdom, did not appear unusual or different from others. That is why people found it hard to acknowledge Jesus’ wisdom: “Where did this man get all this? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?” (Mk 6:2-3). “Is this not the carpenter’s son?” (Mt 13: 55).

These questions make it clear that theirs was an ordinary family, close to others, a normal part of the community.

Jesus did not grow up in a narrow and stifling relationship with Mary and Joseph, but readily interacted with the wider family, the relatives of his parents and their friends. 

This explains how, on returning from Jerusalem, Mary and Joseph could imagine for a whole day that the twelve-year-old Jesus was somewhere in the caravan, listening to people’s stories and sharing their concerns: “Supposing him to be in the group of travellers, they went a day’s journey” (Lk 2:44). 

Still, some Christian families, whether because of the language they use, the way they act or treat others, or their constant harping on the same two or three issues, end up being seen as remote and not really a part of the community. Even their relatives feel looked down upon or judged by them.

172: Recording 

For poor countries, the priorities must be to eliminate extreme poverty and to promote the social development of their people. At the same time, they need to acknowledge the scandalous level of consumption in some privileged sectors of their population and to combat corruption more effectively. 

They are likewise bound to develop less polluting forms of energy production, but to do so they require the help of countries which have experienced great growth at the cost of the ongoing pollution of the planet. 

Taking advantage of abundant solar energy will require the establishment of mechanisms and subsidies which allow developing countries access to technology transfer, technical assistance and financial resources, but in a way which respects their concrete situations, since “the compatibility of [infrastructures] with the context for which they have been designed is not always adequately assessed”.[128] The costs of this would be low, compared to the risks of climate change. In any event, these are primarily ethical decisions, rooted in solidarity between all peoples.

175: Recording

The study of the sacred Scriptures must be a door opened to every believer. It is essential that the revealed word radically enrich our catechesis and all our efforts to pass on the faith.

 Evangelization demands familiarity with God’s word, which calls for dioceses, parishes and Catholic associations to provide for a serious, ongoing study of the Bible, while encouraging its prayerful individual and communal reading.

 We do not blindly seek God, or wait for him to speak to us first, for “God has already spoken, and there is nothing further that we need to know, which has not been revealed to us”. Let us receive the sublime treasure of the revealed word.

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

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

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

Letters from (mainly African) inmates in Hong Kong prisons - and other drug trafficking items:   2016

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

Ugandan nun aims to save world, one person at a time

 A Ugandan nun who lived through the most appalling violence caused by the rampaging fundamentalist Lord's Resistance Army found a way of restoring dignity to the women who were its victims. Hers is a remarkable story told in a book and documentary.

Some weeks ago I posted a message I had sent to the HK Immigration Department on behalf of five imprisoned asylum seekers being targeted for repatriation to their own countries, even though they had wives and young children in HK.

Well, two of the five have now been released, another has been given permission to get married in detention (which will help him be released)  ....and Please God the two others ....and more in their situation ....will also soon be released. Thank you Jesus!

c.f. readings for Feast of the Rosary

Genesis 3

A creature hostile to God took the form of a snake and tempted the first man and first woman. The snake tempted them to disobey God. 

When God asked them why they disobeyed him, the man blamed the woman, and the woman blamed the snake.

God said to the snake: "You are the enemy of the human race. Someday a member of the human race will defeat you."

God said to the man and woman:
"From dust you came, and to dust you will return."

The first man's name was Adam (meaning "man"). The first woman's name was Eve (meaning "life").

Luke 1.46

Recording   

Acts 1.12

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

Recording 

Luke 1.26:

In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel
Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary who was betrothed to a man named Joseph

The angel said to her "Mary, Rejoice! You have been greatly blessed by God.  You are to conceive and have a son whom you must name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of God"

Mary said to the angel, "How can this happen since I am a virgin?"

The angel replied "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will specially bless you. Know this too: your cousin Elizabeth has, in her old age, conceived a son, and is now in her sixth  month"

"I am the handmaid of the Lord", said Mary, "let what you have said, be done for me".  And the angel left her

Recording   

Many religions use beads to help pray. Beads help us to remember what we're doing. Beads help us to focus on praying ... even as we ride a bus or walk along the street. My own custom is to pray an Our Father and a Hail Mary at the start of each decade of the Rosary, and then for the 9 other beads to use words from the Bible readings of the day. So for today, the first decade might use a bead or two for each of these words: "the snake tempted them", "they disobeyed God", "Someday a member of the human race will defeat you", "from dust you came, to dust you will return", the first people were named "man" and "woman". Then the Glory be to the Father, then "O my Jesus" prayer. Then to the next decade ...

Four catechists murdered in Mexico, presumably by drug gangs

The Joy of Love - Pope Francis' letter - on love in the family      Full English text

181: Recording

We also do well to remember that procreation and adoption are not the only ways of experiencing the fruitfulness of love.

Even large families are called to make their mark on society, finding other expressions of fruitfulness that in some way prolong the love that sustains them. 

Christian families should never forget that “faith does not remove us from the world, but draws us more deeply into it… Each of us, in fact, has a special role in preparing for the coming of God’s kingdom in our world”.

Families should not see themselves as a refuge from society, but instead go forth from their homes in a spirit of solidarity with others.

In this way, they become a hub for integrating persons into society and a point of contact between the public and private spheres. 

Married couples should have a clear awareness of their social obligations. With this, their affection does not diminish but is flooded with new light. As the poet says:

“Your hands are my caress,

The harmony that fills my days.

I love you because your hands

Work for justice.

If I love you, it is because you are

My love, my companion and my all,

And on the street, side by side,

We are much more than just two”.

Chinese man sentenced to 42 months in prison for people smuggling

Hong Kong’s Nepali youth problem reflects how it has failed the Gurkhas

171: Recording

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.

174b: Recording

God’s word, listened to and celebrated, above all in the Eucharist, nourishes and inwardly strengthens Christians, enabling them to offer an authentic witness to the Gospel in daily life. 

We have long since moved beyond that old contraposition between word and sacrament. The preaching of the word, living and effective, prepares for the reception of the sacrament, and in the sacrament that word attains its maximum efficacy.

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

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

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

Letters from (mainly African) inmates in Hong Kong prisons - and other drug trafficking items:   2016

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

With a volunteer from Australia, I spent 7 hours yesterday at Tai Lam Women's Centre, visiting inmates. One inmate stood out: she was sentenced, the day before yesterday, to about 9 years in prison in HK for drug trafficking. She had asked a welfare officer to tell me she'd like to see me. Before I met her yesterday, I wondered what she would say: maybe "my sentence was too harsh, why 9 years?" or "how will I survive 9 years in detention?" or "what will happen to my family?"

But what in fact was her main concern when I met her? "Father, please do something to stop other women from Venezuela from being tricked/coerced by Nigerian Drug Lords in Venezuela to bring drugs to HK"! (Venezuela now in state of collapse ...great poverty...people desperate..)

Her concern was for others, not herself. Now that's the special sort of person one would like to help ....maybe with study courses over the coming years (... absolutely no mention of this yesterday).

Matteo Ricci (利 玛 窦) was born on this day in 1552 in the Italian town of Macerata. He grew up in Renaissance Italy with its love of learning and openness to new ideas.

From 1583 until his death in Beijing in 1610, Ricci worked in China as a Jesuit missionary. No other foreigner has been honored by China as much as Ricci. No other foreigner ever had as deep an understanding of Chinese culture and language as Ricci.

Happy Birthday, Matteo Ricci !

Ezekiel 4-11

Ezekiel used many images to describe the fall of Jerusalem.
But the people and their leaders would not believe him.

God used Ezekiel to say to the exiles:

"I will bring you back to your homeland of Israel. I will give you a new heart and a new spirit.

Then you will keep my commandments. Then you will know that I am the Lord."

Grant to us, O Lord, a heart renewed

My recording of this reading

Psalm 71

In you, O Lord, I take refuge.
Please hear me and help me.

Be a rock where I can take refuge. Rescue me from people who want to hurt me.

It is you, O Lord, who are my hope. In you I have trusted since I was young.

From my mother's womb you have been my help. My hope has always been in you.

Now that I am old, please do not forget me. Now that my strength fails, do not abandon me.

Now that I am old and grey-headed, may I continue to trust in you and proclaim your help.

To you I will sing with the harp.
All day long my tongue will tell of your goodness to me.

Recording

Lord, may all elderly people put their trust and hope in you

Revelation 3.1-3

He gave me this message for the church in Sardis:

"I know all about you. You are a shining red apple on the outside,
but inside you are rotten

Wake up, revive your faith and love. Remember the eagerness you showed when you first heard the Good News

Listen to this message and repent"

Jesus, don't ever let me become a rotten apple 

Recording

Mark 1.9-13

About this time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the river Jordan.

As soon as Jesus came out of the water, he saw the sky open and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him.

Then a voice came from heaven
"You are my Son, the Beloved. My favor rests on you".

Straight after this the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness for 40 days. During this time Jesus was tempted by Satan.

Holy Spirit, please increase your influence in my life

Recording

Until I used Google last night to find an image for Ezekiel, I never knew there was a famous bread company in the US called "Ezekiel 4.9"! 
c.f. Ezekiel 4.9: Take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt. Put them in a single container and make them into bread for yourself

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong attacks Thailand after being barred 'at China's request'

The Joy of Love - Pope Francis' letter - on love in the family      Full English text

180: Recording

“The choice of adoption and foster care expresses a particular kind of fruitfulness in the marriage experience, and not only in cases of infertility.

In the light of those situations where a child is desired at any cost, as a right for one’s self-fulfilment, adoption and foster care, correctly understood, manifest an important aspect of parenting and the raising of children. They make people aware that children, whether natural, adoptive or taken in foster care, are persons in their own right who need to be accepted, loved and cared for, and not just brought into this world. 

The best interests of the child should always underlie any decision in adoption and foster care”. On the other hand, “the trafficking of children between countries and continents needs to be prevented by appropriate legislative action and state control”.

170: Recording 

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]

174a: Recording

  Not only the homily has to be nourished by the word of God. All evangelization is based on that word, listened to, meditated upon, lived, celebrated and witnessed to. The sacred Scriptures are the very source of evangelization.

 Consequently, we need to be constantly trained in hearing the word. The Church does not evangelize unless she constantly lets herself be evangelized. It is indispensable that the word of God “be ever more fully at the heart of every ecclesial activity”.

When I Googled "Ezekiel 4.9 bread" I came across one article which spoke about sales of Ezekiel 4.9 bread in the US being on the rise

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

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

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

Letters from (mainly African) inmates in Hong Kong prisons - and other drug trafficking items:   2016

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

Why are schools, especially church schools,  under attack by the Radical Rainbow lobby?

Excellent explanation in this 15 minute tape: Cultural Wars in the West (part one) 

And part two (also 15 minutes) is Here

Pope visits earthquake region

This is a most important article for understanding something quite dramatic now happening in HK and China !

Rivals of Xi encourage meddling by China Liaison Office in Hong Kong, pro-Beijing newspaper claims

Chris McDonnell   (UK blogger)

In the early hours

There is something about the stillness of dawn that is special

Ezekiel 1-3

About 5 years after the first group of Jews were exiled to Babylon,
Ezekiel received a vision while he was with the exiles in Babylon.

Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord and he heard a voice saying: "I am choosing you to speak my message to the people.

Whether the people listen to you or not, you must keep on proclaiming my message.

You are to be a sentry to the House of Israel, a lookout who warns them of danger coming."

Lord, please help people listen to your message and obey it

Psalms 69-70

Save me, O God, for the waters have risen to my neck. I am sinking fast and can't keep afloat much longer.

So many people hate me without cause. I have no more strength to resist them.

May my situation not cause anyone to lose faith in you. May people realize that it is for your sake that I am taunted.

Taunts have broken my heart. No one shows me any compassion.

For food they give me poison. In my thirst they give me vinegar to drink.

Lord, do not hide your face from your servant. Answer quickly for I am in distress.

You are my rescuer, my help, O God. O Lord, do not delay to help me.

O God come to our  assistance. Lord make haste to help us

Recording   

Revelation 2.18-22

He gave me this message for the church in Thyatira:

"I know how charitable you are.
I see you faith and devotion, and your courage in suffering

But some of you are being misled by a false teacher. You are imitating her bad behavior

Listen to this message and repent"

Jesus, please don't let me imitate bad behavior

Recording 

Today's Gospel:

Mark 1.1-8

This is the story of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Long ago God said through  the prophet Isaiah "I am going to send my messenger before you. He will prepare your way. A voice cries out in the wilderness: prepare a way for the Lord".

And so it was that John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

As the people were baptized by John in the river Jordan, they confessed their sins.

John wore a garment of camel skin. Locusts and wild honey were his food.

He said to the people "Someone is coming who is more important than I am. I am not worthy to kneel down and undo his sandal straps.

I baptize you with water. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit".

Jesus, please help us prepare a way for you like John the Baptist

Recording 

As we start to use Mark's Gospel from today, here's an IQ item: What percentage of Mark's Gospel is contained in Matthew's Gospel?
A: 55%     B: 75%   C: 95%       - answer is in "Smile", below!

This Guardian report is most disturbing:
Philippines secret death squads: officer claims police teams behind wave of killings

The Joy of Love - Pope Francis' letter - on love in the family     Full English text

179: Recording

Adoption is a very generous way to become parents.

I encourage those who cannot have children to expand their marital love to embrace those who lack a proper family situation. 

They will never regret having been generous. Adopting a child is an act of love, offering the gift of a family to someone who has none. 

It is important to insist that legislation help facilitate the adoption process, above all in the case of unwanted children, in order to prevent their abortion or abandonment. 

Those who accept the challenge of adopting and accepting someone unconditionally and gratuitously become channels of God’s love. For he says, “Even if your mother forgets you, I will not forget you” (Is 49:15).

169: Recording 

As far as the protection of biodiversity and issues related to desertification are concerned, progress has been far less significant. With regard to climate change, the advances have been regrettably few.

 Reducing greenhouse gases requires honesty, courage and responsibility, above all on the part of those countries which are more powerful and pollute the most. 

The Conference of the United Nations on Sustainable Development, “Rio+20” (Rio de Janeiro 2012), issued a wide-ranging but ineffectual outcome document. International negotiations cannot make significant progress due to positions taken by countries which place their national interests above the global common good.

Those who will have to suffer the consequences of what we are trying to hide will not forget this failure of conscience and responsibility. Even as this Encyclical was being prepared, the debate was intensifying. We believers cannot fail to ask God for a positive outcome to the present discussions, so that future generations will not have to suffer the effects of our ill-advised delays.

173: Recording

Genuine spiritual accompaniment always begins and flourishes in the context of service to the mission of evangelization. 

Paul’s relationship with Timothy and Titus provides an example of this accompaniment and formation which takes place in the midst of apostolic activity. Entrusting them with the mission of remaining in each city to “put in order what remains to be done”, Paul also gives them rules for their personal lives and their pastoral activity. 

This is clearly distinct from every kind of intrusive accompaniment or isolated self-realization. Missionary disciples accompany missionary disciples.

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 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 Al-Shabaab 

Letters from (mainly African) inmates in Hong Kong prisons - and other drug trafficking items:   2016

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