Calm again

Thanks for the chasubles

Yesterday's violent clashes subsided at late afternoon. Streets were quiet and police forces pulled back out of the Old City. Life hopefully has returned to normal .... until another occasion for both races and religions to clash.

As it's only the 2nd day of Eid al Adha, many muslims shops continue to close. The Muslim Quarter is unusually empty of people in the morning ... but by evening the crowds come back out in the cool, and hawkers in the streets make brisk business. Vendors sell fruit, toys, food ... the usual stuff of an arab feast. Loud music is blared throughout. Cigarette and nargileh smoke cloud the air. The festivities go on till way pass 2am. Then all is silent again till the next day of celebrations.

Ethiopic catholics after Mass

Thanks for all the gifts: chasubles, food, mooncakes, clothes that groups have brought over. They're a big help and greatly appreciated. Not having a vacation for over the past 13 years, little gifts in summer sort of compensate for it. It makes the 3 long hot months a little more bearable. Otherwise I'm just working as usual, perhaps sleep a little longer (that means 4 hours) and give more bible talks and masses for nuns in Bethlehem and other regions. I also have to celebrate the Geez Rite Mass for the Ethiopic and Eritrean catholics in Jerusalem on Saturdays; and the Armenian Catholic Mass for the Armenian catholics on Sundays.

The civil war in Hong Kong has reached a point of no-return. When the airport has to cancel flights and flight crew go on strike, street and train traffic at a standstill ..... lawyers marching in protest ... the only and ultimate institution that puts the nail into the coffin is the financial sector. If financiers start to pull out investments, the stock market go on strike ... then it is game over. God forbid it will ever happen. If only everyone can come to their senses. The future is not worth throwing away over present ideals. There will be no turning back.