V2Catholic.com A voice for the
poor Edited
by HK prison chaplain
Fr John Wotherspoon
O.M.I . 胡頌恆神父
jdwomi@gmail.com
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& Archives Imitating
Pope
Francis
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www.AsylumSeekerHK.com
April 18
Easter Tues
In the past month, 4 young Nepal men have died of heroin overdoses in HK. At least two of them were recently at Hei Ling Chau Drug Treatment Centre ("18A") where I had visited them. Hundreds of young Nepal men in HK use not only heroin but also a cough syrup that contains 9% (!) codeine ... which is openly sold by unscrupulous chemists. Prescription cough syrup contains 4% codeine. The 9% syrup is more toxic than heroin - causing liver failure.
The fathers of most of the Nepal men were Gurkhas
- regarded as the bravest soldiers in the world. Yet their HK sons are rarely not
drug users. This is a big social issue HK has yet to face properly ... starting
with the Nepalese parents for whom, sad to say, this is a taboo topic.
After talking to some Nepalese inmates at Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution
("18C") yesterday I am hoping a new group can be formed to reach out
to the Nepalese young drug addicts. There are already a number of organisations
trying to help ... but they're not reaching very many drug users.
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome
here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Deuteronomy 19-21:
Moses' teaching:
"A life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,
a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot.
When you go to war, the following men are excused from fighting:
a man who has not yet dedicated his newly-built house;
a man who has planted a vineyard and not yet enjoyed its fruit;
a man who is engaged to be married;
a man who is fearful and faint of heart."
Dear Lord, help me to
understand how Jesus taught us to love our enemies and not to take revenge
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
103: My soul, give thanks to the Lord.
All my being, bless his holy name. My soul, give thanks to the Lord
and never forget all his blessings. It is he who forgives all your guilt,
who heals every one of your ills. It is he who fills your life with good things,
renewing your youth like an eagle's life. The Lord is compassion and love,
slow to anger and rich in mercy. As the heavens are high above the earth
so strong is his love for those who love him. As far as the East is from the West,
so far does he remove our sins. As a father has compassion on his
children,
the Lord has pity on all who love and honor him. Give thanks to the Lord, all his angels,
who heed the voice of his word. Give thanks to the Lord, everyone and
everything.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord!
Thank you, Lord, for your love
and compassion
Recording
1
Corinthians 1.18 - 2.9: The language of the
Cross doesn't make sense for some people. But for us it is God's power to save. While
the Jews demand miracles and the Greeks require philosophy, here we are
preaching a crucified Christ: to the Jews an obstacle they cannot get over, to
the pagans madness. During my stay with you, I relied not on philosophy or my
own efforts, but only on the power of the Spirit. The wisdom we teach is about
things no eye has seen, and no ear has heard, things beyond human understanding
- all that God has prepared for those who love him.
Jesus, crucified Lord, please increase my faith in you.
Recording
John
20.11-18: Peter and John went home. Mary
Magdalene remained at the tomb, crying. When she looked inside the tomb, she saw
two angels in white. She also saw Jesus standing there, though she did not
recognize him. Jesus said "Woman, why are you
crying?". Mary thought he was the gardener so she said to him "If you
have taken him away, tell me where you have put him". Jesus said
"Mary" and she recognized him. Jesus then said "I will ascend to
my Father". Mary went and told the disciples all she had seen and
heard.
Jesus, please bless people who are crying at funerals today. May awareness of
your presence bring them peace and strength for the days ahead
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
Last Sunday
morning as I walked to church for Mass, I felt tired and flat .... and not at
all sure what my homily would be about. But then as Mass began I came to life
... and I thought to myself: Easter gives us hope and strength and energy,
almost despite ourselves.
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
66: Recording
"The
covenant of love and fidelity lived by the Holy Family of Nazareth illuminates
the principle which gives shape to every family, and enables it better to face
the vicissitudes of life and history.
On this basis, every family, despite its weaknesses, can become a light in the darkness of the world.
Nazareth teaches us the meaning of family life, its loving communion, its simple and austere beauty, its sacred and inviolable character.
May it teach how sweet and irreplaceable is its training, how fundamental and incomparable its role in the social order".
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text
Full Chinese text
58: Recording: In some countries, there are positive examples of environmental improvement: rivers, polluted for decades, have been cleaned up; native woodlands have been restored; landscapes have been beautified thanks to environmental renewal projects; beautiful buildings have been erected; advances have been made in the production of non-polluting energy and in the improvement of public transportation.
These achievements do not solve global problems, but they do show that men and women are still capable of intervening positively.
For all our limitations, gestures of generosity, solidarity and care cannot but well up within us, since we were made for love.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
39: Recording
When preaching is faithful to the Gospel, the
centrality of certain truths is evident and it becomes clear that
Christian morality is not a form of stoicism, or self-denial, or merely a
practical philosophy or a catalogue of sins and faults.
Before all else, the Gospel invites us to respond to the God of love who saves us, to see God in others and to go forth from ourselves to seek the good of others.
Under no circumstance can this invitation be obscured!
All of the virtues are at the service of
this response of love.
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent, N 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 18th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shandong
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 18th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Ivory Coast
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
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April 17
Easter Mon
Photos here
of last Sat night Mass and meal at Sant'Egido
Centre, Jordan
Pope's
homily on Sat night - inspiring!
re Royal
Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse - updated blog
Tanzania
Govt wants drug suspect extradited to US
End the 2001 resolution on military force
For more than a decade and a half, we have stumbled and fumbled from one
battlefield to the next and then back again in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and
now Syria
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Deuteronomy
16-18: Moses' teaching:
"Remember the special feasts and days that you must observe.
Appoint judges for the people. Do not pervert the law.
You must be fair, you must not take bribes.
No bribes, no corruption.
Do not practise divination, soothsaying.
No one may be an augur or sorcerer.
Do not use charms, do not consult ghosts or spirits.
Instead, be entirely faithful to the Lord your God."
Dear
Lord, please help people avoid
astrology and fortune tellers
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
102: O Lord, listen to my
prayer in my distress.
Do not hide your face from me. For my days are
vanishing like smoke,
my bones burn away like a fire. I forget to eat my
bread.
My skin clings to my bones. All day long my foes
revile me.
Those who hate me use my name as a curse. But you, O Lord, will
endure for ever.
You will arise and have mercy on Sion. You will hear the
groans of the prisoners
and free those condemned to die. I pray to you: "Do
not take me away before my time has come,
you whose days last from age to age.
Lord, please help people who
are in great distress
Recording
1
Corinthians 1.1-10: I, Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle,
send greetings to the church of God in Corinth. May God our Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. I never stop thanking God for all the graces
you have received through Jesus Christ. The witness to Christ has been strong among
you. God shares with us the life of his Son, Jesus.
God helps us to be faithful as followers of Jesus. I appeal to you to be united in belief and
practice.
Put an end to the differences between you.
Jesus, Son of God, thank you for all the
graces I have received
Recording
Matthew 28.1-15: Jesus
died on Friday afternoon. Early on Sunday morning, two women went to Jesus'
tomb. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, and an angel from heaven came and
rolled away the big stone at the tomb's entrance. The guards at the tomb were
terrified of the angel. The angel said to the women "Do not be afraid. I
know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. He has risen
from the dead. Go and tell his disciples he has risen from the dead and will see
them in Galilee". The women were filled with joy and ran to tell this news
to the disciples. As they left the tomb area, Jesus himself appeared to them and
said "Do not be afraid. Go and tell the disciples they must go to
Galilee. They will see me there".
Lord Jesus, by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free. You are the
Savior of the world
Recording
Chris
McDonnell 
The
morning stone:
These
empty days
before a morning dawn,
overwhelmed by events.
Meeting
with a gardener
who knows her name,
she responds
with her faith-filled greeting
of joyous recognition
"Rabboni!"
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
65: Recording The
incarnation of the Word in a human family, in Nazareth, by its very newness
changed the history of the world.
We need to enter into the mystery of Jesus' birth, into that "yes" given by Mary to the message of the angel, when the Word was conceived in her womb, as well as the "yes" of Joseph, who gave a name to Jesus and watched over Mary.
We need to contemplate the joy of the shepherds before the manger, the adoration of the Magi and the flight into Egypt, in which Jesus shares his people's experience of exile, persecution and humiliation.
We need to contemplate the religious expectation of Zechariah and his joy at the birth of John the Baptist, the fulfilment of the promise made known to Simeon and Anna in the Temple and the marvel of the teachers of the Law who listened to the wisdom of the child Jesus.
We then need to peer into those thirty long years when Jesus earned his keep by the work of his hands, reciting the traditional prayers and expressions of his people's faith and coming to know that ancestral faith until he made it bear fruit in the mystery of the Kingdom.
This is the mystery of Christmas and the secret of Nazareth, exuding the beauty of family life!
It was this that so fascinated Francis of Assisi, Theresa of the Child Jesus and Charles de Foucauld, and continues to fill Christian families with hope and joy.
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
57: Recording
It is foreseeable that, once
certain resources have been depleted, the scene will be set for new wars, albeit
under the guise of noble claims.
War always does grave harm to the environment and to the cultural riches of peoples, risks which are magnified when one considers nuclear arms and biological weapons.
"Despite the international agreements which prohibit chemical, bacteriological and biological warfare, the fact is that laboratory research continues to develop new offensive weapons capable of altering the balance of nature".
Politics must pay greater attention to foreseeing new conflicts and addressing the causes which can lead to them.
But powerful financial interests prove most resistant to this effort, and political planning tends to lack breadth of vision.
What would induce anyone, at this stage, to hold on to power only to be remembered for their inability to take action when it was urgent and necessary to do so?
------------------------------------
Daniel Daring: Year with Matthew - 15:
What Motivates You?Do you talk with your parents only when you want something? Prayer is more than just asking
-----------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
39a: Recording
When preaching is faithful to the Gospel, the centrality of
certain truths is evident and it becomes clear that
Christian morality is not a form of stoicism, or self-denial, or merely a
practical philosophy or a catalogue of sins and faults.
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Frid: South America
Sat: Cent, N. 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 17th of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shaanxi
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 17th of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Malawi
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
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May
the Risen Lord give hope and peace to our troubled world .... with a special
blessing for all dear readers of this website! HAPPY EASTER!
April 16
EASTER
SUN
An inspiring YouTube for Easter - click image:
Recommended by a HK reader - a beautiful 2 min. homily by Pope
Francis:
Pope
invites all to be more aware of God's love
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Easter Sunday
Acts 10.34-43: Peter
addressed Cornelius and his household: "You must have heard about the recent
happenings in Judea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee. God
had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with
him, Jesus went about doing good, and curing all who had fallen into the power
of the devil. And about how they killed him by hanging him
on a tree, yet three days afterwards God raised him to life. We have eaten and
drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead. It is to him that all the
prophets bear this witness: that all who believe in Jesus will have their sins
forgiven through his name."
Jesus, Risen Lord, please increase my faith in you
My
recording of this reading
Psalm 118: Give
thanks to the Lord for he is good. His love has no end. Let
the sons of Israel say: "His love has no end." The
Lord's right hand has triumphed. His right hand has raised me up. I shall not
die, I shall live and recount all his deeds. The stone which the builders
rejected, has become the corner stone. This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in
our eyes.
This day was made by the Lord. We rejoice and are glad.
Recording
Colossians
3.1-2: Since you have been brought
back to true life with Christ, focus on heaven, where Christ is, sitting at the
Father's right hand. Let your thoughts be more on heavenly things, less on the
things that are on earth.
Jesus, please help me think more often about heaven.....since that's where I
hope to spend all eternity! Help me understand how this present world is just a
temporary arrangement
Recording
John 20.1-9: 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
Reflection
on the above readings:
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Spanish with English subtitles
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
64: Recording "The
example of Jesus is a paradigm for the Church.
He began his public ministry with the miracle at the wedding feast of Cana (cf. Jn 2:1-11).
He shared in everyday moments of friendship with the family of Lazarus and his sisters (cf. Lk 10:38) and with the family of Peter (cf. Mk 8:14).
He sympathized with grieving parents and restored their children to life (cf. Mk 5:41; Lk 7:14-15).
In this way he demonstrated the true meaning of mercy, which entails the restoration of the covenant.
This is clear from his conversations with the Samaritan woman (cf. Jn 1:4-30) and with the woman found in adultery (cf. Jn 8:1-11), where the consciousness of sin is awakened by an encounter with Jesus' gratuitous love".
---------------------------------------------
The
Rich Family In Church
A month before Easter the pastor announced a special
Easter offering would be taken to help a poor family. A
great Easter story
-------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
56: Recording
In the meantime, economic powers continue to justify
the current global system where priority tends to be given to speculation and
the pursuit of financial gain, which fail to take the context into account, let
alone the effects on human dignity and the natural environment.
Here we see how environmental deterioration and human and ethical degradation are closely linked.
Many people will deny doing anything wrong because distractions constantly dull our consciousness of just how limited and finite our world really is.
As a result, "whatever is fragile, like the environment, is defenceless before the interests of a deified market, which become the only rule".
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
38: Recording
If in the course of a year a parish priest speaks about
temperance ten times but only mentions charity or justice two or three times, an
imbalance results, and precisely those virtues which ought to be most present in
preaching and catechesis are overlooked.
The same
thing happens when we speak more about law than about grace, more about the
Church than about Christ, more about the Pope than
about God's word
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
------------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
Easter
- we again use "Alleluia" (after not using it for 6 weeks of Lent).
So, this alleluia joke: A
man bought a donkey from a preacher. The preacher told the man that this donkey
had been trained in a very unique way (being the donkey of a preacher). The only
way to make the donkey go, was to say, "Hallelujah!" The only way to
make the donkey stop, was to say, "Amen!" The man was pleased with his
purchase and immediately got on the animal to try out the preacher's
instructions.
"Hallelujah!" shouted the man. The donkey began to trot.
"Amen!" shouted the man. The donkey stopped immediately. "This is
great!" said the man. With a "Hallelujah" he rode off, very proud
of his new purchase. The man traveled for a long time through the mountains. As
he headed towards a cliff, he tried to remember the word to make the donkey
stop. "Stop," said the man. "Halt!" he cried. The donkey
just kept going. "Oh, no..." ..."Bible...Church!...Please!
Stop!!," shouted the man. The donkey just began to trot faster. He was
getting closer and closer to the edge of the cliff. Finally, in desperation, the
man said a prayer ... "Please, dear Lord. Please make this donkey
stop before I go off the end of this mountain, In Jesus' name, AMEN." The
donkey came to an abrupt stop just one step from the edge of the cliff.
"HALLELUJAH!" shouted the man.
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Fri: South America
Sat: Cent., N 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 16th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Qinghai
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 16th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Afghanistan
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
April 15
HOLY
SAT
Yesterday at Lai Chi Kok reception centre, a group of 8 older drug users joined me for a simplified Good Friday service, reading (from the Simple Bible, Chinese edition) the Passion as in John's Gospel chapters 13-19, then venerating my large O.M.I. cross (not the small one I wear each day).
Near the table where we were sitting in day room 4A (which has about 70 men), a movie was being shown on live TV. Only when our sharing finished did I pay attention to the sounds coming from the TV ... and I recognized a voice (that of Aslan, the Lion) .... and realized the movie was Narnia! ... a story written by C.S. Lewis to help people understand the story of ... Jesus! The lion which sacrifices its life is Jesus. Someone in HK's TVB programming department must be a Christian!
I just checked the Wikipedia article Narnia. As far as I can see, not one mention of Jesus.
c.f.
The religious symbolism behind the Chronicles of Narnia - BBC
Recommended by a reader in Australia:
A
MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO KILL US
- sermon of priest in Egypt
after church killings
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Matthew
27.57-66: Joseph from Arimathaea was a rich man who had
become a disciple of Jesus. After Jesus died on Friday, he asked Governor Pilate for
Jesus' body. Joseph wrapped the body in a clean
burial cloth and put it in his own new tomb in a rock cave. He then put a
large stone at the cave's entrance. The next day, Saturday, the religious
leaders went to Pilate and said
"This imposter said he would rise from the dead after 3
days.
Therefore you should secure the tomb in case his disciples steal the body
and say he has risen from the dead".
Pilate gave them a guard and told them to secure the tomb.
The guards took up their position at the tomb
and seals were put on the entrance stone.
Jesus in the tomb, please give
eternal life to all who have died
Recording
Mark
15.42-47: Joseph from Arimathaea was a rich
man who had become a disciple of Jesus. After Jesus died on Friday, he
asked Governor Pilate for Jesus' body. Joseph wrapped the body in a clean
burial cloth and put it in a tomb in a rock cave. He then put a large
stone at the cave's entrance. Mary of Magdala and another woman watched Joseph as he put Jesus' body in the tomb.
Jesus in the tomb, please give
eternal life to everyone who dies today
Recording
Luke 23.50-56: Joseph from the town of Arimathaea was a
member of the religious leaders' council. He was a good and just man, and
had not agreed to the killing of Jesus. Late Friday afternoon, he went to Governor
Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. He took it down from the cross,
wrapped it in a burial cloth, and put it in a rock tomb that had not yet
been used. The women from Galilee who had come to
Jerusalem with Jesus went with Joseph to the tomb. Then they left to
prepare burial spices and ointments. They planned to put these on Jesus'
body after the Saturday Sabbath day of rest.
Jesus in the tomb, please give eternal life to
all the dead
Recording
John
19.38-42: Joseph of Arimathaea, a disciple of
Jesus, asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Pilate agreed and
Jesus' body was taken down from the cross. Another man, Nicodemus, brought burial spices.
He and Joseph wrapped Jesus' body in linen cloths with the spices. Since the Passover was due to begin at sunset,
they put the body in an unused tomb close to the place of
Crucifixion.
Jesus, dead in the tomb, please give eternal
life to everyone who dies today
Recording
Reflection on the above readings: Jesus' dead body - a hopeless situation. People with terminal sickness - a hopeless situation. Jesus, you overcame hopelessness. Please help people with terminal sickness do the same! Please tsunami them with your healing love!
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
63: Recording "Jesus,
who reconciled all things in himself, restored marriage and the family to their
original form (cf. Mt 10:1-12).
Marriage and the family have been redeemed by Christ (cf. Eph 5:21-32) and restored in the image of the Holy Trinity, the mystery from which all true love flows.
The spousal covenant, originating in creation and revealed in the history of salvation, takes on its full meaning in Christ and his Church.
Through his Church, Christ bestows on marriage and the family the grace necessary to bear witness to the love of God and to live the life of communion.
The Gospel of the family spans the history of the world, from the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26-27), to the fulfilment of the mystery of the covenant in Christ at the end of time with the marriage of the Lamb (cf. Rev 19:9)".
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
55: Recording Some
countries are gradually making significant progress, developing more effective
controls and working to combat corruption.
People may well have a growing ecological sensitivity but it has not succeeded in changing their harmful habits of consumption which, rather than decreasing, appear to be growing all the more.
A simple example is the increasing use and power of air-conditioning.
The markets, which immediately benefit from sales, stimulate ever greater demand.
An outsider looking at our world would be amazed at such behaviour, which at times appears self-destructive.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
37: Recording
Saint Thomas Aquinas taught that what
counts above all else is "faith working through love".
Works of love directed to one's neighbour are the most perfect external manifestation of the interior grace of the Spirit.
Thomas explains that, as far as external works are concerned, mercy
is the greatest of all the virtues: "In itself mercy is the greatest
of the virtues, since all the others revolve around it and, more than this, it
makes up for their deficiencies"
-------------------------------------
Holy
Saturday tomb joke:
There were once some music fanatics who were fascinated with the works of Ludwig
von Beethoven. They listened to, and played everything that he had ever written.
Finally, after years of saving, they went to Europe to see where this legend had
been buried.
When they got to the cemetery, they found the tomb where his body had been laid.
However, one of the fanatics saw that the door was left slightly ajar. They
turned to each other, wondering if they should look in, or shut the door. They
decided to look in, just out of curiosity. Upon looking in the tomb, they saw a
very strange sight. Beethoven was sitting at a desk, frantically erasing copies
of everything he had ever written! "Beethoven, sir!," one of them
exclaimed, "What are you doing?!"
Beethoven turned calmly to the group, and answered them. "I'm
decomposing..."
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent. & N
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 15th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Liaoning
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 15th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Zimbabwe
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
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April 14
GOOD
FRIDAY
Good Friday was when a young Eugene de Mazenod was tsunamied by the love of Jesus. May Good Friday always have a powerful effect on our hearts .... and give us courage to live better lives as Christians
On Holy Thursday, Pope Francis presses his anti-mafia fight
(an encouraging item for this website's anti-drug campaign)
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The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
c.f. readings for Good Friday
Isaiah 52-53: See,
my servant will prosper, he shall be lifted up and exalted. As the crowds were
appalled on seeing him - so disfigured did he look - so will the crowds be
astonished at him, for they will see something that has never happened before.
Without beauty, without majesty, we saw him. He was despised and rejected,
a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. He was despised and we took no
account of him. And yet ours were the sufferings he bore, ours the sorrows he
carried. He was pierced through for our faults, crushed for our sins. On him
lies a punishment that brings us peace, and through his wounds we are healed. We
had all gone astray like sheep, and the Lord burdened him with our sins. Harshly
dealt with, he bore it humbly, never opening his mouth. He let himself be taken
for a sinner, and all the time he was suffering and praying for sinners.
Jesus, these words refer to you. Thank you for all you suffered to redeem the
world.
My recording of this reading
Luke
23.33-38: When they reached the place called The Skull,
they crucified Jesus there, and the two criminals also, one on his right,
the other on his left. Above his head was placed a sign
"This is the King of the Jews". Jesus prayed "Father, forgive them. They
do not know what they are doing". The leaders made fun of him "He saved
others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God". The soldiers mocked him too "If you are
the king of the Jews, save yourself".
Jesus, you forgave those who mocked you and
crucified you. I forgive anyone who has been unkind to me
Recording
Luke
23.39-43: One of the criminals hanging on a cross mockingly
said to Jesus
"Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us as well". But the other criminal rebuked the first one
and said "We are paying the penalty for our crimes. But this man has
done nothing wrong". "Jesus",
he said, "remember me
when you come into your kingdom".
Jesus replied "I promise you, this day
you will be with me in Paradise".
Jesus, remember me when you come into your
kingdom
Recording
Luke 23.44-49: At about midday, there was an eclipse of the sun. The whole land was in darkness until about 3pm. The veil of the Temple was torn right down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice "Father, into your hands I entrust my life".
Then he died.
When the Roman army leader saw what had
happened,
he said "This was a great and good man". The people who had been present went home
asking God for mercy. Jesus' friends
stood at a distance and saw all that had happened.
Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for
the salvation of the world
Recording
Reflections
on the above Bible readings:
One
of the most moving songs ever written:
Jesus,
remember me, when you come into your kingdom
Brendan
Hoban:
The pull of Good Friday
For anyone who believes in Jesus, time stood still on Good Friday and, like
Christmas Day, the mood of Good Friday creates in us a need to somehow affirm
its importance in our lives. This is why so many find themselves drawn towards a
church on Good Friday. Even those whose faith may be uncertain and whose
religious practice may have ceased can find themselves in reflective mood on
Good Friday
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Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
62: Recording The
Synod Fathers noted that Jesus, "in speaking of God's original plan for man
and woman, reaffirmed the indissoluble union between them, even stating that 'it
was for your hardness of heart that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but
from the beginning it was not so' (Mt 19:8).
The indissolubility of marriage - 'what God has joined together, let no man put asunder' (Mt 19:6) - should not be viewed as a 'yoke' imposed on humanity, but as a 'gift' granted to those who are joined in marriage.
God's indulgent love always accompanies our human journey; through grace, it heals and transforms hardened hearts, leading them back to the beginning through the way of the cross.
The Gospels clearly present the example of Jesus who proclaimed the meaning of marriage as the fullness of revelation that restores God's original plan (cf. Mt 19:3)".
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Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
54: Recording
It is remarkable how weak international political
responses have been.
The failure of global summits on the environment make it plain that our politics are subject to technology and finance.
There are too many special interests, and economic interests easily end up trumping the common good and manipulating information so that their own plans will not be affected.
The Aparecida Document urges that "the interests of economic groups which irrationally demolish sources of life should not prevail in dealing with natural resources".
The alliance between the economy and technology ends up sidelining anything unrelated to its immediate interests.
Consequently the most one can expect is superficial rhetoric, sporadic acts of philanthropy and perfunctory expressions of concern for the environment, whereas any genuine attempt by groups within society to introduce change is viewed as a nuisance based on romantic illusions or an obstacle to be circumvented.
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Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
36: Recording
All revealed truths derive from the same divine
source and are to be believed with the same faith, yet some of them are more
important for giving direct expression to the heart of the Gospel.
In this basic core, what shines forth is the beauty of the saving love of God made manifest in Jesus Christ who died and rose from the dead.
In this sense, the Second Vatican Council explained, "in Catholic doctrine there exists an order or a 'hierarchy' of truths, since they vary in their relation to the foundation of the Christian faith".
This holds true as much for the dogmas of faith as for the whole corpus of the Church's teaching, including her moral teaching.
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Stations
of the Cross from the Iona Passion Play
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10
years ago today:
Saturday night English Corner with Garth and his mother Lynne and Lynne's mother Lorna
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Last night at the weekly canteen meal for homeless people,
before the meal began I washed the right feet/foot/foots (?) of 8 of the men
present. Previously I'd washed feet in churches and prisons, but this was the
first time in a canteen.
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Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: S.
America
Sat: Cent, N. 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 14th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jilin
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 14th of the month, Jesus please bless
the people of Ethiopia
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
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April 13
HOLY
THURS
How many people were at the Last
Supper?
Mozart-Bernstein: Ave Verum
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
c.f. readings for Holy Thursday
Exodus 12-13: God
said to Moses and Aaron "On
the evening of the 14th day of this month, each family must kill and eat a one
year old male sheep or goat. Some of its blood must be put on your front door.
You must eat it in a hurry, with a belt round your waist, sandals on your feet,
and a staff in your hand. This night I will go through the
Jesus, Passover
Lamb of God, we praise you Lord!
My recording of this reading
Psalm 116: I
love the Lord for he has heard the cry of my appeal. He turned his ear to me in
the day when I called him. They
surrounded me, sorrow, distress and the snares of death. I was helpless, so the
Lord saved me. Calm down my soul, for the Lord has been good. I will walk in the
presence of the Lord in the land of the living. How can I repay the Lord for his
goodness to me? The cup of salvation I will raise to thank the Lord. O precious
in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful. Lord, you have loosened my
bonds. I am your servant.
Jesus, thank you for the cup of salvation that is your Eucharistic Blood
Recording
1
Corinthians 11.20-26: Concerning the
Lord's Supper, this is what I received from the Lord and then taught you: On the
night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, broke it and said
"This is my body which will be broken for you". After supper he took a
cup and said "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Each time you drink
this cup, drink it in memory of me". Until the Lord comes, therefore, each
time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you re-enact the death of the Lord.
Jesus, help me understand how bread and wine become your body and blood when
Christians celebrate the Eucharist
Recording
John
13.1-15: While Jesus and his disciples were
eating a meal just before the Passover, Jesus got up from the table, removed his
outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist as an apron. He
then poured water into a basin, and like a slave, began to wash the disciples'
feet, wiping them with the towel he was wearing. After washing their feet he
said to them "You are right in calling me Master and Lord. If I, then, the
Lord and Master, have humbly served you, you should humbly serve one another. I
have given you an example, so that you may copy what I have done for you".
Jesus, please help us to serve other people humbly, just as you humbly served
the disciples
Recording
Reflection
on the above Bible readings:
One
picture is better than many words:
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Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
61: Recording Jesus
restores and fulfils God's plan: Contrary
to those who rejected marriage as evil, the New Testament teaches that
"everything created by God is good and nothing is to be rejected" (1
Tim 4:4).
Marriage is "a gift" from the Lord (1 Cor 7:7).
At the same time, precisely because of this positive understanding, the New Testament strongly emphasizes the need to safe-guard God's gift: "Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled" (Heb 13:4).
This divine gift includes sexuality: "Do not refuse one another" (1 Cor 7:5).
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"Pretend
we didn't hear it" - Police caught on tape after recorder left on
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Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
53: Recording These
situations have caused sister earth, along with all the abandoned of our world,
to cry out, pleading that we take another course.
Never have we so hurt and mistreated our common home as we have in the last two hundred years.
Yet we are called to be instruments of God our Father, so that our planet might be what he desired when he created it and correspond with his plan for peace, beauty and fullness.
The problem is that we still lack the culture needed to confront this crisis.
We lack leadership capable of striking out on new paths and meeting the needs of the present with concern for all and without prejudice towards coming generations.
The establishment of a legal framework which can set clear boundaries and ensure the protection of ecosystems has become indispensable; otherwise, the new power structures based on the techno-economic paradigm may overwhelm not only our politics but also freedom and justice.
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Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
35: Recording
Pastoral ministry in a missionary style is
not obsessed with the disjointed transmission of a multitude of doctrines
to be insistently imposed.
When we adopt a pastoral goal and a missionary style which would actually reach everyone without exception or exclusion, the message has to concentrate on the essentials, on what is most beautiful, most grand, most appealing and at the same time most necessary.
The message is simplified, while losing none of its depth and truth, and thus becomes all the more forceful and convincing.
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For Holy Thursday: Yesterday
I was at Lo Wu women's prison for nearly 8 hours. I met with many inmates during
the day, usually at a small table at the entrance of their work rooms. Since it
was Easter time, I put some photos on the table ... of the Last Supper, of the
Crucifixion etc (like the ones on this website these days). One photo was of
Pope Francis washing inmates' feet. When an inmate whose first language is not
English saw this photo she said "Oh, there's Father Frank" (not trying
to be funny, just speaking in simple English)!
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Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent, N America
Jesus,
today, Thursday,
please bless the people of
South East Asia
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 13th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jiangxi
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 13th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Mali
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Thursday,
please pacify Al-Qaeda
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April 12
Wed of Holy Week
Yesterday morning I again attended court in support of an African asylum seeker
who is being falsely charged with trafficking 0.2g (!) of cocaine. No evidence,
no drugs, no fingerprints, no DNA ... just the word of one undercover police
officer who would be ideally cast in a movie as a loan shark or second hand car
salesman. Officer claims he saw man on 15 occasions. Man's lawyer is using man's
Octopus (travel) card to show he was elsewhere on those occasions. Case
continues in front of a judge who is unashamedly on side of prosecution.
More
about the Kenyan woman who might become a senator in South Australia
Pope to show solidarity with Egypt's Coptic Christians in wake(?)
of church bombings
Pope's Laundry opens for Rome's homeless
(God bless Sant'Egidio &
Whirlpool!)
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Chris McDonnell
My friend Lazarus is only asleep
Raw greed and a selfish political climate challenge the very core of the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth. Simplicity is a word that has been lost in the undergrowth.
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Wed of Holy
Week
Isaiah 50: The
Lord has opened my ear to hear his message. The Lord has given me words to
proclaim his message. For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn
away. I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at
my beard. I did not protect my face from insult and spittle. I set my face like
flint. The Lord will help me.
Jesus, please help me understand how these words refer to you
My recording of this reading
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.
Jesus, please help me understand how these words refer to you
Recording
Lk
23.13-25:
Pilate said to the religious leaders and to
the people "You brought this man before me as a political agitator.
Neither Herod nor I have found a case against the man. He has done nothing
deserving death. I shall have him flogged and then let him go". But the leaders and people screamed out "Away with him. Crucify
him!". Pilate asked "Why? What harm has he
done?"
They kept shouting "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate then gave in to them and handed Jesus over for crucifixion.
Jesus, how great your mental suffering must
have been as the crowd shouted for your death
Recording
Luke 23.26-34:
As Jesus was being led to the place of
crucifixion, a man named Simon was coming into Jerusalem from
the country.
He was made to carry the cross behind Jesus. Large numbers of people followed him,
including women who mourned for him. Jesus said to them "Daughters of
Jerusalem, do not weep for me. Weep rather for yourselves and for your
children. For if this is how innocent people are treated, what will happen
to people who are guilty?" Two criminals were led out with Jesus to be
crucified with him.
Jesus, please help me to carry my cross each
day
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
Each
time we help another person to "keep going", we are helping Jesus to
carry his cross.
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Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
60: Recording This
brief chapter, then, will summarize the Church's teaching on marriage and the
family.
Here too I will mention what the Synod Fathers had to say about the light offered by our faith.
They began with the gaze of Jesus and they spoke of how he "looked upon the women and men whom he met with love and tenderness, accompanying their steps in truth, patience and mercy as he proclaimed the demands of the Kingdom of God".
The Lord is also with us today, as we seek to practice and pass on the Gospel of the family.
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
52b: Recording The
poorest areas and countries are less capable of adopting new models for reducing
environmental impact because they lack the wherewithal to develop the necessary
processes and to cover their costs.
We must continue to be aware that, regarding climate change, there are differentiated responsibilities.
As the United States bishops have said, greater attention must be given to "the needs of the poor, the weak and the vulnerable, in a debate often dominated by more powerful interests".
We need to strengthen the conviction that we are one single human family.
There are no frontiers or barriers, political or social, behind which we can hide, still less is there room for the globalization of indifference.
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Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
34: Recording
If we attempt to put all things in a missionary key, this
will also affect the way we communicate the message.
In today's world of instant communication and occasionally biased media coverage, the message we preach runs a greater risk of being distorted or reduced to some of its secondary aspects.
In this way certain issues which are part of the Church's moral teaching are taken out of the context which gives them their meaning.
The biggest problem is when the message we preach then seems identified with those secondary aspects which, important as they are, do not in and of themselves convey the heart of Christ's message.
We need to be realistic and not assume that our
audience understands the full background of what we are saying, or is capable of
relating what we say to the very heart of the Gospel which gives it meaning,
beauty and attractiveness.
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10
years ago today:
------------------------------------------
For Easter time:
Recently as I walked along a local street I saw a coffin being
placed in a hearse. Presuming someone had died in a nearby building, I started
saying a prayer for the deceased .... but stopped as I walked a little further
and saw a shop selling coffins. What I had seen was an empty coffin .... though
mind you I can't be certain that I'm dead right.
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E.Asia, Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent, N 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 12th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jiangsu
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 12th of the month, Jesus please
bless the people of Guinea Bissau
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
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Please also join me in praying for the very many deformed and handicapped people from China who are on the streets of HK as beggars...as well as deformed people in China itself ...like Hung Chun Cai
My Africa trips:
2015: Tanzania, Malawi
2016: Kenya, Uganda
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Video: What "gay marriage" did to Massachusetts
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Pope's surprise visit to drug treatment centre
Pope is practising what he preaches: "get out and mix with the poor"
HK
readers might like to join me in praying each day for one group of HK
prison inmates: Sun:
Lo Wu; Mon: C.I.C., Siu Lam, Tai Lam; Tue: Stanley
Wed: Hei Ling Chau Thu: Lantau
Fri: Lai Chi Kok
Sat: Hospitals, Pik Uk & other centres
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This website was launched in construction
mode in Hong Kong on November 20, 2011 - the Feast of Christ
the King.
The official launching
was
held on the Gold Coast, Australia, on January 20,
2012.
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Thank you for checking this website each day. God bless all readers and bloggers!
Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡
頌 恆 神 父
jdwomi@gmail.com
HK
mobile (852) 6709 5674
China
mobile 13030213703 - out of
action for the time being
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