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Tuesday
December 27 |
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Pope
(262, below): Education
includes encouraging the responsible use of freedom to
face issues with good sense and intelligence. |
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Moving
letter (in Thai and English) by a
Thai women in prison in HK for drug
trafficking - saying how she was tricked by her Nigerian
husband to go from Thailand to Brazil and bring drugs to HK. PDF Here
(scroll down to English ...once you start reading, you
won't stop...)
I've posted this story at Nigeria's number one Blog: Here
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Tonight I'm due to leave from HK for South Africa. I'm not sure when I
next will be able to update this website.
DV on reaching Johannesburg I'll buy
a mobile phone card and then put its number at the top of this menu by Dec
29.
Each day while away I'll try to check email. But in some of the places
I'm due to visit, the internet connection may not always be working.
Aims
of my trip are the same as Jan 2015 (Tanzania) and Jan 2016 (Kenya and
Uganda): to visit the families of prisoners in HK, to promote awareness
about the danger of drug trafficking to HK, and to lobby for prisoner
transfer agreements.
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The
Book Blog
4 readings +
recordings |
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Comments/reflections
welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible |
c.f. readings for
St John the Apostle
John
13.34-35:
Jesus said to his disciples at the meal "I give you a
new commandment: love one another.
Just as I have loved you, you also must love one another
By
this love you have for one another, everyone will know
that you are my disciples"
Jesus,
please help all Christians to love one another as you have
loved us
Recording
of this reading
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John
20.1-10
Before
dawn the next morning, Sunday, Mary Magdalene went to the
tomb. She saw the stone had been moved from the
tomb's entrance
She
ran to Peter and John and said "Someone has taken the
Lord out of the tomb"
They
ran back to the tomb. Peter went in first. He saw that the
linen cloths were on the ground. But the cloth that had
been around Jesus' head was not on the ground. It was
neatly folded and in a place by itself
Then
John went into the tomb. He saw, and he believed
Jesus,
I believe you rose from the dead. Please increase my faith
Recording
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1
John 1.1-2
Something
which has existed since the beginning - that we heard,
that we saw with our own eyes, that we touched with our
hands: the Word, who is life
- this is our subject
That
life was made visible.
We
saw it, and we are giving our testimony, telling you of
the eternal life which was with the Father and has been
made visible to us
Jesus, Word-made-flesh,
you are the Way, the Truth and the Life
Recording
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Revelation
1.9-17
I,
John, share your sufferings. I was on the island of Patmos,
imprisoned for having preached about Jesus
One
Sunday the Spirit possessed me. I heard a voice shouting
"Write down all you see, and send it to the seven
churches of
Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia
and Laodicea"
I
turned to see who had spoken to me, and I saw Jesus, full
of glory. His face was like the sun shining with all its
force
He
said to me "Do not be afraid. It is I, the First and
the Last. I am the Living One"
Jesus,
Living One, we praise and adore you, Lord
Recording
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In
these days after Christmas let us often reflect on the
words of St John (at the start of his gospel and in
today's third reading): "In the beginning was the
Word". The Baby in the manger of Bethlehem is the
C.E.O. of the Universe. Some Kid! ....and he wants to be
friends with each one of us!
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How China is using the media as a form of soft power in Australia |
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Tanzania
President, mystery nun and 2015 election outcome
- why President attended a
Christmas Mass |
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The
Joy of Love - Pope
Francis' letter - on
love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
262: Recording
Were
maturity merely the development of something already
present in our genetic code, not much would have to be
done.
But
prudence, good judgement and common sense are dependent
not on purely quantitative growth factors, but rather on a
whole series of things that come together deep within each
person, or better, at the very core of our freedom.
Inevitably,
each child will surprise us with ideas and projects born
of that freedom, which challenge us to rethink our own
ideas.
This
is a good thing.
Education
includes encouraging the responsible use of freedom to
face issues with good sense and intelligence.
It
involves forming persons who readily understand that their
own lives, and the life of the community, are in their
hands, and that freedom is itself a great gift.
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Interactive
Bible Quiz - Job
Based on the actual words of the Bible.
How
many times you can get 3/3 ?! |
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Today
I am reading the introduction
to this excellent little book 40
Days of Pilgrimage with Pope Francis: Care for Our Common
Home" (used with permission ...tomorrow: Day
1...)
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237b: Recording
The
good news is the joy
of the Father who desires that none of his little ones be
lost, the
joy of the Good Shepherd who finds the lost sheep and
brings it back to the flock.
The
Gospel is the leaven which causes the dough to rise and
the city on the hill whose light illumines all peoples.
The Gospel has an
intrinsic principle of totality:
it will always remain good news until it has been
proclaimed to all people, until it has healed and
strengthened every aspect of humanity, until it has
brought all men and women together
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10 years
ago today |
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Helping the poor in Zhaoqing- Fr Victor, Clara & friends from
Macau; Fr Stefano, Candy and friends from Hong Kong
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Little
boy in "Outback" Australia had never seen rain.
There had been a drought for more than 5 years.
Then just before Christmas the clouds began to form.
On Christmas Eve water fell from the sky.
The little boy ran to the window to see what was
happening.
He called out to his mother "Mum, what's that?"
His mother replied "That's rain, dear"
(..reindeer..) |
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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
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And praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 27th of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Tibet
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month: On this 27th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Uganda
And
praying for one Islam-related
intention each day
of the week:
Jesus,
please pacify
Boko
Haram |
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I
wish all dear readers the peace of Christmas right through 2017!
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Yesterday in my homily at Mass, I used this 4 min video:
Christmas
Truce of 1914:
On returning home,
while catching up on loads of office work, I watched/listened
to this moving documentary:
Peace
in No Mans Land - The Christmas Truce (1914)
And
then this one:
The
Great War: Christmas Truce
which has the
words "these young boys were not made to kill each
other"
And
lastly: A
World War II Christmas story from 1944
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Photo and details of Chuck
Valentine Ezeh, a Nigerian Drug Lord in Kuala Lumpur
who has put 5 Indonesian women in prison in HK
for drug trafficking. Here
(Dec 15). And see
my post at Nigeria's number
one blog - Here
(scroll down to my name)
Letter (in
Indonesian) from an Indonesian
woman, an asylum seeker, a
resident of HK, in prison in HK on a drug trafficking
charge - saying how she was tricked by an African man in
HK to receive a parcel of drugs from Brazil: Here
(Dec 16)
Letter (in Chinese) from
a
Mainland woman recruited by a Nigerian man in Guangzhou
to take drugs from Malaysia to HK -Here
(July 13 ...scroll down to this second letter) - with
photos of the Nigerian man.
Letter in Spanish from
a Mexican man in HK for drug
trafficking: Here
(Dec 16)
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The
Book Blog
4 readings +
recordings |
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Readings
are from Simple
Bible
(which has Chinese translation
available) |
Feast
of St Stephen -
THE STORY OF STEPHEN
Acts
6.8-15
One
of the seven deacons, Stephen, was filled with grace and
power. He began to do many miracles
A
group of Jews tried to beat Stephen in a debate. But they
could not win, because the Holy Spirit was guiding Stephen
in his speech
The
group then got some men to falsely accuse Stephen of being
disloyal to Moses and to God
The
group had Stephen arrested and brought before a meeting of
the religious leaders. At the meeting, false witnesses
accused Stephen of speaking against Moses and the Law
Jesus,
please protect people who are accused by false witnesses
Recording
of this reading
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Acts
7.1-54
The meeting of religious leaders had falsely accused
Stephen of being disloyal to Moses
So
Stephen gave a long speech, full of loyalty to Moses. Then
he made a stinging attack on the leaders: "You
stubborn people, with your pagan hearts and pagan ears.
You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, just as your
ancestors did.
Your
ancestors killed the prophets who foretold the coming of
the Just One. You have gone further: you have killed the
Just One himself"
When
the leaders heard these words, they were very angry and
wanted to kill Stephen
Jesus,
Just One from heaven, please don't let me resist the Holy
Spirit. Holy Spirit of God, please increase your influence
in my life
Recording
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Acts
7.55-58
Stephen,
filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up and saw the glory
of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand
"I
can see heaven thrown open", he said, "and Jesus
standing at the right hand of God"
At
this, the religious leaders at the meeting covered their
ears with their hands. They sent Stephen out of the city
and stoned him. The false witnesses (who were required to
throw the first stones) put down their clothes at the feet
of a young man named Paul
Recording
YouTube:
The
stoning of Stephen
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Acts
7.59 - 8.3
As
they were stoning him, Stephen prayed "Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit". Then he knelt down and prayed
"Lord, do not hold this sin against them". Then
he died. Paul entirely approved of the killing
That
day a bitter persecution started against the church in
Jerusalem and everyone except the apostles fled to the
countryside
Paul
began working for the destruction of the church. He went
from house to house arresting men and women and sending
them to prison
Jesus,
thank you for the example of Stephen who, like yourself,
forgave those who were killing him
Recording
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Feast
of Stephen. His extraordinary forgiveness of Saul surely
had something to do with the deradicalization of Saul.
A powerful lesson for today's radicalized IS world
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For
today's Feast of St Stephen: |
Good
King Wenceslas with Lyrics - sung by a children's choir
- a famous story about helping
the poor |
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The
Joy of Love - Pope
Francis' letter - on
love in the family Full
English text Full
Chinese text
261:
Recording
Obsession,
however, is not education.
We
cannot control every situation that a child may
experience.
Here
it remains true that “time is greater than space”. In
other words, it is more important to start processes than
to dominate spaces.
If
parents are obsessed with always knowing where their
children are and controlling all their movements, they
will seek only to dominate space.
But
this is no way to educate, strengthen and prepare their
children to face challenges.
What
is most important is the ability lovingly to help them
grow in freedom, maturity, overall discipline and real
autonomy.
Only
in this way will children come to possess the wherewithal
needed to fend for themselves and to act intelligently and
prudently whenever they meet with difficulties.
The
real question, then, is not where our children are
physically, or whom they are with at any given time, but
rather where they are existentially, where they stand in
terms of their convictions, goals, desires and
dreams.
The
questions I would put to parents are these: “Do we seek
to understand ‘where’ our children really are in their
journey? Where is their soul, do we really know? And above
all, do we want to know?”.
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246d:
Recording
God
of love, show us our place in this world as channels of
your love for all the creatures of this earth, for not one
of them is forgotten in your sight.
Enlighten those who possess power and money that they may
avoid the sin of indifference, that they may love the
common good, advance the weak, and care for this world in
which we live.
The
poor and the earth are crying out. O Lord, seize us with
your power and light, help us to protect all life, to
prepare for a better future, for the coming of your
Kingdom of justice, peace, love and beauty.
Praise be to you! Amen.
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237a:
Recording
To
Christians, this principle ("the whole is greater
than the part") also evokes the
totality or integrity of the Gospel
which the Church passes down to us and sends us forth to
proclaim.
Its
fullness and richness embrace scholars and workers,
businessmen and artists, in a word, everyone. The genius
of each people receives in its own way the
entire Gospel and
embodies it in expressions of prayer, fraternity, justice,
struggle and celebration.
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10 years
ago today |
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2006-12-26
Visit to CAS, Marco Polo & Ricci School by HK St Aflred's group. Also
at Ricci- Clara's Macau group |
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All HK prison
inmates received a special treat yesterday for Christmas
Day - a leg of chicken ... Christmas Day being one of just
a few "leg" days each year...most days being
"wing" days! |
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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 26th of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Xinjiang
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 26th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Togo
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) |
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Sunday
December 25
Christmas Day |
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Pope
(260, below): Only if we
devote time to our children, speaking of important
things with simplicity and concern, and finding
healthy ways for them to spend their time, will we
be able to shield them from harm. |
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The
astounding child from Nazareth
That
great truth revealed by the man from Nazareth would only
be realized when his followers had shunned all
exploitation, violence, and abuse and organized a
community to live out these extraordinary values together.
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The
place ... and all the people in the place .... are
poor
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With
a real baby!
Christmas
Flash Mob - YouTube
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The
Book Blog
4 readings +
recordings |
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Readings
are from Simple
Bible
(which has Chinese translation
available) |
c.f.
readings for Dec 25
Isaiah
62.11-12
This the Lord proclaims to the ends of the earth: Say to
the daughter of Zion, ‘Look, your saviour comes, the
prize of his victory with him, his trophies before
him.’
They
shall be called ‘The Holy People’, ‘the Lord’s
Redeemed.’
And
you shall be called ‘The-sought-after’,
‘City-not-forsaken.’
Recording
of this reading
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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
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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
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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
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There's
something in our DNA that draws us to the Baby Jesus, like
metal to a magnet. Note the way the teenagers in the
Christmas Flash Mob YouTube at top of today's menu fall to
their knees at the sight of the Baby. That Baby not only
sweeps us off our feet. He also makes us fall to our knees
in loving adoration.
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The Joy of Love - Pope
Francis' letter - on
love in the family
Full
English text
260:
Recording
Families
cannot help but be places of support, guidance and
direction, however much they may have to rethink their
methods and discover new resources.
Parents
need to consider what they want their children to be
exposed to, and this necessarily means being concerned
about who is providing their entertainment, who is
entering their rooms through television and electronic
devices, and with whom they are spending their free
time.
Only
if we devote time to our children, speaking of important
things with simplicity and concern, and finding healthy
ways for them to spend their time, will we be able to
shield them from harm.
Vigilance
is always necessary and neglect is never beneficial.
Parents
have to help prepare children and adolescents to confront
the risk, for example, of aggression, abuse or drug
addiction.
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246c:
Recording
Triune
Lord, wondrous community of infinite love, teach us to
contemplate you in the beauty of the universe, for all
things speak of you.
Awaken
our praise and thankfulness for every being that you have
made.
Give
us the grace to feel profoundly joined to everything that
is.
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236: Recording
Here
our model is not the sphere,
which is no greater than its parts, where every point is
equidistant from the centre, and there are no differences
between them. Instead, it is
the polyhedron
(!), which reflects the convergence
of all its parts, each of which preserves its
distinctiveness.
Pastoral
and political activity alike seek
to gather in this polyhedron the best of each.
There is a place for the poor and their culture, their
aspirations and their potential. Even people who can be
considered dubious on account of their errors have
something to offer which must not be overlooked.
It
is the convergence of peoples who, within the universal
order, maintain their own individuality; it is the sum
total of persons within a society which pursues the common
good, which truly has a place
for everyone.
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10 years
ago
today |
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What
a happy day!
2006-12-25
Christmas Day- church, Marco Polo, Mr Xue, evening English, new baby today
- what a happy day! |
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Hour
of Love HK
radio program 9.05pm HK time each Sunday night
- with messages about African inmates in HK prisons (c.
9.25pm) |
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Maybe I've
been listening to too many Christmas carols and looking at
too many nativity scenes .... but I thought I heard a
sheep baaaa when I posted the main photo at the top of
today's menu. Check it and see ...can you hear a baaaa ?!
(No, I'm not trying to pull the wool over your eyes...) |
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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 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,
please bless
all Muslims in my
own country |
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Saturday
December 24
Christmas Eve |
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Pope
(246, below): Son
of God, Jesus, through
you all things were made. You were formed in the
womb of Mary our Mother, you became part of this
earth, and you gazed upon this world with human
eyes. Today you are alive in every creature in
your risen glory. Praise be to you!
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YouTube
- brilliant!
The
Christmas Scale
It's
hard to believe that the greatest message the world will
ever hear is contained in one simple scale
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Beautiful Christmas poem by Chris
McDonnell (UK)
Pass
on and stand before the telling of the story of the Jesus
Child
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The
Book Blog
4 readings +
recordings |
|
Readings
are from Simple
Bible
(which has Chinese translation
available) |
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
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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
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Luke
2.1-7 :
Caesar
Augustus issued a decree for a census of the whole world
to be taken. This census – the first –
took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria, and
everyone went to his own town to be registered.
So
Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and
travelled up to Judaea, to the town of David called
Bethlehem, since he was of David’s House and line, in
order to be registered together with Mary, his
betrothed, who was with child.
While
they were there the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to a son, her first born. She wrapped
him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger
because there was no room for them at the inn.
Recording
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Luke
2.8-14:
In
the countryside close by there were shepherds who lived
in the fields and took it in turns to watch their flocks
during the night. The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone round them.
They
were terrified, but the angel said, ‘Do not be afraid.
Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be
shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a
saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And
here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in
swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’
And
suddenly with the angel there was a great throng of the
heavenly host, praising God and singing: ‘Glory
to God in the highest heaven, and peace to all
who enjoy his favour.’
Recording
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Yesterday
as I tried in vain to find accommodation for a middle-aged
woman (with a gangrene foot) who has been sleeping at
McDonald's (God bless McDonald's!) I kept thinking of the
line in tonight's Gospel "there was no room for them
at the inn". All over the world the number of people
who are sleeping on the streets has increased greatly over
the past few years. Surely this issue should be a concern
for all governments. Certainly this issue should be a
concern for all Christians.
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Today is the
anniversary of Lottie
Moon, a small woman with a huge
heart who served as a missionary in China for nearly forty
years in very difficult conditions |
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The
Joy of Love - Pope
Francis' letter - on
love in the family
Full
English text
259:
Recording
Parents
always influence the moral development of their children,
for better or for worse.
It
follows that they should take up this essential role and
carry it out consciously, enthusiastically, reasonably and
appropriately.
Since
the educational role of families is so important, and
increasingly complex, I would like to discuss it in
detail.
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246
- prayer: Recording
Father,
we praise you with all your creatures. They
came forth from your all-powerful hand; they are yours,
filled with your presence and your tender love. Praise be
to you!
Son
of God, Jesus, through you all things were
made. You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother, you
became part of this earth, and you gazed upon this world
with human eyes. Today you are alive in every creature in
your risen glory. Praise be to you!
Holy
Spirit, by your light you guide this world
towards the Father’s love and accompany creation as it
groans in travail. You also dwell in our hearts and you
inspire us to do what is good. Praise be to you!
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235: Recording
The
whole is greater than the part, but it is also greater
than the sum of its parts.
There
is no need, then, to be overly obsessed with limited and
particular questions. We
constantly have to broaden our horizons
and see the greater good which will benefit us all.
But
this has to be done without evasion or uprooting. We need
to sink our roots deeper into the fertile soil and history
of our native place, which is a gift of God. We
can work on a small scale, in our own neighbourhood, but
with a larger perspective.
Nor
do people who wholeheartedly enter into the life of a
community need to lose their individualism or hide their
identity; instead, they receive new impulses to personal
growth. The
global need not stifle,
nor the particular
prove barren.
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10 years
ago
on this day |
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2006-12-24
Thank you Zhaoqing Car Club for books and other items for school-less children! |
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What
nationality is Santa Claus?
Polish ... North Polish |
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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 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 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) |
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Friday
December 23 |
|
Pope
(258, below): The
better we live on this earth,
the greater the happiness we will be able
to share with our loved ones in
heaven. |
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One of my favorite videos - enjoy!
Bob
Welsh:
My Christmas Eve
|
Such
is the case when you have a government
administration which does little about great
poverty in the midst of affluence in Hong Kong:
1.
Hospitals forced to tie children of addicts to bed
(this is
totally sad and shocking ...how can anyone support
the three present administration candidates to be
the next C.E. ?)
2.
Hong Kong police
mistreated and threatened detainee
3.
Al
Jazeera video report: Lawyers
to help refugees who sheltered Snowden in Hong
Kong
|
One
of the Kenyan Drug Lords operating in HK - Esther
- has emailed me her displeasure at having her
name, photos and story on my website.
Her
words are Here
(scroll down to the last update - Dec
22)
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The
Book Blog
4
readings + recordings |
|
Comments/reflections
welcome here
Readings
are from Simple
Bible |
c.f.
readings for Dec 23
Micah
3
The
Lord God says this: Look, I am going to send my
messenger to prepare a way before me.
Know
that I am going to send you Elijah the prophet
before my day comes. He shall turn the hearts of
fathers towards their children and the hearts of
children towards their fathers
Lord,
may we accept the messengers who prepare
your way
|
Psalm
24:
Lord,
make me know your ways. Lord, teach me your
paths. Make me walk in your truth, and teach me,
for you are God my saviour.
The
Lord is good and upright. He shows the path to
those who stray, he guides
the humble in the right path, he teaches his way
to the poor.
Lord,
help me walk in your truth
Recording
O
Immanuel, you are our king and our judge, the One
whom the peoples await and our Saviour. O come and
save us, Lord our God
|
Luke
1.57- 62
The
time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and
she gave birth to a son; and when her neighbours
and relations heard that the Lord had shown her
so great a kindness, they shared her joy.
Now
on the eighth day they came to circumcise the
child; they were going to call him Zechariah
after his father, but his mother spoke up.
‘No,’ she said ‘he is to be called
John.’
They
said to her, ‘But no one in your family has
that name’, and made signs to his father to
find out what he wanted him called.
Recording
|
Luke
1.63 - 66
The
father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote,
‘His name is John.’ And they were all
astonished.
At
that instant his power of speech returned and he
spoke and praised God.
All
their neighbours were filled with awe and the
whole affair was talked about throughout the hill
country of Judaea.
All
those who heard of it treasured it in their
hearts. ‘What will this child turn out to be?’
they wondered. And indeed the hand of the Lord was
with him.
Lord,
may I treasure your message in my heart
Recording
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Today's
readings are all about the Christmas Baby's
cousin, John the Baptist, born 6 months before the
first Christmas. His job was to prepare the way
for Jesus. Which is also the job of every
Christian - to prepare a way for Jesus, to help
other people know and love the Baby born at
Christmas.
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The
Joy of Love - Pope
Francis' letter - on
love in the family
Full
English text
258: Recording
If
we accept death, we can prepare ourselves for
it.
The
way is to grow in our love for those who walk at
our side, until that day when “death will be no
more, mourning and crying and pain will be no
more” (Rev 21:4) .
We
will thus prepare ourselves to meet once more our
loved ones who have died.
Just
as Jesus “gave back to his mother” (cf. Lk
7:15) her son who had died, so it will be with us.
Let
us not waste energy by dwelling on the distant
past.
The
better we live on this earth, the greater the
happiness we will be able to share with our loved
ones in heaven.
The
more we are able to mature and develop in this
world, the more gifts will we be able to bring to
the heavenly banquet
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John
Allen
|
Pope vows Vatican reform is real despite resistance |
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246
- prayer: Recording
All-powerful
God, you are present in the whole universe and in
the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with
your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we
may protect life and beauty. Fill us with peace,
that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming
no one.
O
God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned
and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your
eyes.
Bring
healing to our lives, that we may protect the
world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty,
not pollution and destruction.
Touch
the hearts of those who look only for gain at the
expense of the poor and the earth. Teach us to
discover the worth of each thing, to be filled
with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we
are profoundly united with every creature as we
journey towards your infinite light.
We
thank you for being with us each day. Encourage
us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and
peace.
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234:
Recording
An
innate tension also exists between globalization
and localization.
We need to pay attention to the global
so as to avoid narrowness and banality. Yet we
also need to look to the local,
which keeps our feet on the ground.
Together,
the two prevent us from falling into one of two
extremes. In the first, people get caught
up in an abstract,
globalized universe, falling into step
behind everyone else, admiring the glitter of
other people’s world, gaping and applauding at
all the right times.
At
the other extreme, they turn into a
museum of local folklore, a world apart,
doomed to doing the same things over and over, and
incapable of being challenged by novelty or
appreciating the beauty which God bestows beyond
their borders.
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10
years ago today |
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2006-12-23
A happy Saturday: Macau Mr & Mrs Wong & Ms
Wong at CAS; Christmas party/class/English Corner
at Ricci Memorial Center |
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Q:
What did Elizabeth say when Mary greeted her?
A:
"Blessed are you among women"
Q: What did
Elizabeth's husband Zachary say when Mary greeted
him?
A: Nothing ... he
couldn't speak (until John the Baptist was born)! |
|
|
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 23rd
of the month, Jesus please
bless the prisoners of Guangxi
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 23rd
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Djibouti
And
praying for one Islam-related
intention
each day of the week:
Jesus,
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) |
|
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Thursday
December 22 |
|
Pope
(233, below): The
principle of reality, of a
Word already made flesh and constantly striving to
take flesh anew,
is essential to evangelization |
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|
Jesus
born at Christmas, please give hope and peace to our
troubled world!
|
Yesterday morning I was at the High Court
for three cases, involving three women: two from Africa
and one from Indonesia - on drug trafficking
charges.
Then I walked to Central and had lunch at a popular
Filipino restaurant - Jollibee - where on the table next
to me an African man was chatting up several Filipinas
....and from his conversation I knew there was more than
chicken on the table - see Here
and Here.
Unless
more is done to stop such activity, there will,
unfortunately, be more women in court.
|
This
is a great concern - please read:
UN
appoints powerful LGBT enforcer |
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|
|
The
Book Blog
4 readings +
recordings |
|
Comments/reflections
welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible |
c.f.
readings for Dec 22
1
Samuel 1
Each year, Elkanah and his two wives
Hannah and Peninnah, went to Shiloh to worship the
Lord.
Peninnah
had children, but Hannah was barren. Each year at the
temple, Peninnah would taunt Hannah because she was
barren.
One
year at the temple, Hannah prayed in great distress:
"God, if you give me a child, I will dedicate him to
you".
Not
long after, Hannah conceived a son whom she called
"Samuel".
When Samuel was weaned, she took him to the temple and
gave him to the priest there to serve the Lord for the
rest of his life.
Dear
God, please bless all women who are unable to have a baby
Recording
of this reading
|
1
Samuel 2
Hannah praised God for giving her a child: "My heart
rejoices in the Lord. The Lord, our fortress, is holy.
Don't
speak proudly, for the Lord knows what's in our hearts.
The
Lord breaks the power of the strong. He gives strength and
victory to the weak. He blesses the barren woman.
The
Lord raises the poor from the dust, and gives them a seat
of honor with princes.
The
Lord guards the steps of good people, but scatters bad
people in their pride."
Lord,
please "scatter" bad people
Recording
Root
of Jesse, set up as a sign to the peoples, come to save
us and delay no more.
|
Luke
1.45-51 (a)
Mary
said: ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and
my spirit exults in God my saviour; because he has
looked upon his lowly handmaid.
Yes,
from this day forward all generations will call me
blessed, for the Almighty has done
great things for me.
Holy
is his name, and his mercy reaches from age to age for
those who honour him.
He
has shown the power of his arm, he has scattered the
proud of heart.
Recording
|
Luke
1.45-51 (b)
He
has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted
the lowly.
The
hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent
empty away.
He
has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of
his mercy – according to the
promise he made to our ancestors – of his mercy
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
Mary
stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went
back home.
Praise
you Lord for your mercy to all generations of the human
family
Recording
 |
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The
Universe started from a tiny atom (?) which exploded (the
Big Bang).
Christmas reminds us how Author of the Big Bang began his
human life as a tiny atom in his mother's womb .....
unleashing a spiritual explosion which began at the first
Christmas
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The
Joy of Love - Pope
Francis' letter - on
love in the family
Full
English text
257: Recording
One
way of maintaining fellowship with our loved ones is to
pray for them.
The
Bible tells us that “to pray for the dead” is “holy
and pious” (2 Macc 12:44 -45).
“Our
prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but
also of making their intercession for us effective”.
The
Book of Revelation portrays the martyrs interceding for
those who suffer injustice on earth (cf. Rev 6:9-11), in
solidarity with this world and its history.
Some
saints, before dying, consoled their loved ones by
promising them that they would be near to help them.
Saint
Therese of Lisieux wished to continue doing good from
heaven.
Saint
Dominic stated that “he would be more helpful after
death… more powerful in obtaining graces”.
These
are truly “bonds of love”, because “the union of the
wayfarers with the brethren who sleep in the Lord is in no
way interrupted… [but] reinforced by an exchange of
spiritual goods”.
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The astonishing secret history of the Pope who fought Hitler |
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246: Recording
At
the conclusion of this lengthy reflection which has been
both joyful and troubling, I propose that we offer two
prayers.
The
first we can share with all who believe in a God who is
the all-powerful Creator, while in the other we Christians
ask for inspiration to take up the commitment to creation
set before us by the Gospel of Jesus.
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233: Recording
Realities
are greater than ideas.
This principle has to do with incarnation of the word and
its being put into practice: “By this you know the
Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh is from God”.
The
principle of reality, of a
Word
already made flesh and constantly striving to take flesh
anew,
is essential to evangelization. It helps us to see that
the Church’s history is a history of salvation, to be
mindful of those saints who inculturated the Gospel in the
life of our peoples and to reap the fruits of the
Church’s rich bimillennial tradition, without
pretending to come up with a system of thought detached
from this treasury, as if we wanted to reinvent the Gospel.
At
the same time, this
principle impels us to put the word into practice, to
perform works of justice and charity which make that word
fruitful.
Not
to put the word into practice, not to make it reality, is
to build on sand, to remain in the realm of pure ideas and
to end up in a lifeless and unfruitful self-centredness
and gnosticism.
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10 years
ago today |
|
2006-12-22
Christmas party at Zhaoqing Middle School for keen Junior
Two English students
2006-12-22
Balloons featuring in this year's Christmas decorations at
Mazenod, Ricci and Assisi |
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|
Ice??!
 |
|
|
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 22nd
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Zhejiang
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 22nd
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Rwanda
And
praying for one Islam-related
intention each day
of the week:
Jesus,
please pacify 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) |
|
|
|
English students: Seven
new
recordings with
text
each day.
Use to/from
school/work !
