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
Links, Search
& Archives Imitating
Pope
Francis
This
website's anti-drug campaign saves people from going to prison in HK
See & share inmates'
letters!
HK
Indon
Kenya
Nigeria
Phil
S.A.
S.Amer
Thail
Tanz
Ug
EU
How
campaign began
HK:how
long prison for trafficking?
www.AsylumSeekerHK.com
Tues April 25
Holiday today for Anzac
Day (my 2012
article)
It's time for
Pope to get tough on Venezuela
Sewing
Hope - the remarkable story of a 12 year old boy who makes bears for
sick children (with text - excellent for English)
Yesterday I had a most encouraging 3-hour meeting with an
Indonesian journalist based in HK. Much good on the agenda. Thank
you Jesus!
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
For today's Feast of St. Mark
Mark 14.48-52: Jesus
said to them "Am I a robber that you needed to capture me with swords and
clubs? Day after day I was openly teaching in the Temple". All the apostles
then deserted him and ran away. A young man
who followed Jesus had nothing on but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him,
but he left the cloth in their hands and ran away naked.
My
recording of this reading
Acts 15.36-40: Some
time after this, Paul said to Barnabas "Let's revisit the towns where we
preached the word of the Lord". Barnabas suggested taking John
Mark with them, but Paul opposed this, since
John Mark had deserted them on the previous trip when the situation became
dangerous. After a violent argument, Paul and Barnabas split up. Barnabas went
with John Mark to Cyprus. Silas joined Paul for his next journey.
Recording
Colossians
4.10: Aristarchus, who is here in prison
with me, sends his greetings, and so does Mark,
the cousin of Barnabas. If he comes to you give him a warm welcome.
Recording
1 Peter 5.13: Your
sister in Babylon sends you greetings; so does my son Mark
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
Mark in his youth was good at running
... running away from danger (Gospel and Acts, above). But his feet were
eventually right in the danger zone that was Rome. We can also note that not all
scholars agree that "Mark" in the above 4 readings is the same person. See
Mark
the Evangelist
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
92: Recording
Being
patient does not mean letting ourselves be constantly mistreated, tolerating
physical aggression or allowing other people to use us.
We encounter problems whenever we think that relationships or people ought to be perfect, or when we put ourselves at the centre and expect things to turn out our way.
Then everything makes us impatient, everything makes us react aggressively.
Unless we cultivate patience, we will always find excuses for responding angrily.
We will end up incapable of living together, antisocial, unable to control our impulses, and our families will become battlegrounds.
That is why the word of God tells us: "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, with all malice" (Eph 4:31).
Patience takes root when I recognize that other people also have a right to live in this world, just as they are.
It does not matter if they hold me back, if they unsettle my plans, or annoy me by the way they act or think, or if they are not everything I want them to be.
Love always has an aspect of deep compassion that leads to accepting the other person as part of this world, even when he or she acts differently than I would like.
---------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
46: Recording
A Church which "goes forth" is a Church whose
doors are open.
Going out to others in order to reach the fringes of humanity does
not mean rushing out aimlessly into the world.
Often it is better simply to slow down, to put aside our eagerness, in order to see and listen to others, to stop rushing from one thing to another and to remain with someone who has faltered along the way.
At times we have to be like the father of the prodigal son,
who always keeps his door open so that when the son
returns, he can readily pass through it.
-------------------------------------
To go with bear
story, at top of this menu:
--------------------------------------
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 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, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
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Mon April 24
The
Russian woman featured on yesterday's menu, below, has written a new letter (in
English) about her experience of imprisonment in HK. Pages 2 and
3 of her new letter, at the
bottom of this link, powerfully describe her distress at being in
prison.
Pope likens migrant holding centres to 'concentration camps'
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Deuteronomy
29-30c:
See, today I set before you life and prosperity,
death and disaster.
If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God,
if you love the Lord your God and follow his ways,
if you keep his commandments, his laws, his customs,
you will live and increase,
and the Lord your God will bless you
in the land which you are entering to make your own.
But if your heart strays, if you refuse to listen,
if you let yourself be drawn into worshipping other gods
and serving them,
I tell you today, you will most certainly perish;
you will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan
to enter and possess.
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
108: My heart is ready, O God. I will sing, sing
your praise.
Awake, lyre and harp. I will awake the dawn. I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples,
praise you among the nations, for your love reaches to the heavens
and your truth to the skies. O Lord, come and deliver us today.
Help us with your right hand. Give us help in difficult situations.
With your help we shall be brave.
Lord, we need your help every
day
Recording
1
Corinthians 9.12-27: I put up with anything, rather than obstruct
the Good News of Christ in any way. I make myself all things to all people, in
order to save some. All the runners at the stadium are trying to
win, but only one of them gets the prize. You must run in the same way,
meaning to win the gold medal of eternal life. That is how I run, intent on winning.
Therefore I try to stay in top condition, avoiding sloppy living.
Jesus, may I run a good race till my last day
Recording
John
1.1-14: From all eternity the Word existed.
The Word was with God the Father.
The Word was God the Son. The Word was the source of life for all
creatures. The Word became a man, and lived among
us.
We saw his glory, full of grace and truth. Many people did not recognize and did not accept the
Word.
But to everyone who did accept him,
he gave power to become children of God.
Jesus, please help me understand how you are
the Word-made-flesh
Recording
(In the beginning was the Word)
Reflection
on the above readings:
St Paul, above, says life is like a
race. Yes ....the human race!
--------------------------------------------------------
Updates
from Sr.
Anastasia, M.M. (黄修女）
01
02
----------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
85: Recording The
Church is called to cooperate with parents through suitable pastoral
initiatives, assisting them in the fulfilment of their educational
mission.
She must always do this by helping them to appreciate their proper role and to realize that by their reception of the sacrament of marriage they become ministers of their children's education.
In educating them, they build up the Church, and in so doing, they accept a God-given vocation
---------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
45: Recording
We see that the task of evangelization
operates within the limits of language and of
circumstances.
It constantly seeks to communicate more effectively the truth of the Gospel in a specific context, without renouncing the truth, the goodness and the light which it brings
A missionary heart is aware of these limits and makes itself "weak with the weak ... everything for everyone".
It never closes itself off, never retreats into its own security, never opts for rigidity and defensiveness.
It realizes that it has to grow in its own understanding of
the Gospel and in discerning the paths of the Spirit, and so it always does what
good it can, even if in the process, its shoes get soiled
by the mud of the street.
-------------------------------------
One of the hardest working women in HK is "A-Mei".
As I walked past her shop yesterday afternoon on the way to St Paul's for the
3pm prayer meeting, I noticed her husband in her shop, reading a newspaper. I
thought to myself "what a good man ...keeping his wife company as she
works". Then as I saw the usual big crowd of men outside the nearby Jockey
Club (Sunday horse racing) the penny fell: he was reading the horse racing page
... and was strategically placed for quick visits to the betting shop!
--------------------------------------
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 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, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
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Sun April 23
Yesterday, thanks to some information from Russia (... Donald Trump's not the
only one with friends in Russia ...) I was able to post photos of the Nigerian
Drug Lord in Thailand who recruited women from Russia to go to South America and
take drugs to HK. Photos and story of what happened are here.
I also put a post on Nigeria's no. 1 blog,
Nairand - here
- which in less than one day had more than 300 views. This job is being done in
the hope that such publicity will stop other people becoming drug mules, and
will help the two Russian women when they are sentenced at the HK High Court
this coming Wednesday, April 26.
Also posted yesterday is a photo of HK's No. 1 Nigerian Drug Lord - "Nonso"-
here
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. "Easter 2"
Acts 2.37-47: The crowd was deeply moved by Peter's words,
and asked "What should we do?" Peter replied
"You must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then
you too will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit". That day about
3,000 people were baptized. These remained faithful to the teaching of the
apostles, to a life of sharing and caring, to the Breaking of Bread, and to
prayer. Many miracles were worked by the apostles, and
this made a deep impression on everyone. Each day the Lord added new
members to their group.
Jesus, please help me remain faithful to the
Christian way of life
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." Let those who honor the Lord say:
"His love has no end." It is better to take refuge in the Lord than
to trust in humans.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. I was falling, falling, falling,
but the Lord was my helper. The Lord is my strength and my song.
He is my saviour. 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.
Lord, we give thanks to you,
for you are good.
Your love has no end
Recording
1
Peter 1.3-9: Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
In his great mercy, he has made us his children.
He has prepared a place in heaven for us to live with him forever. This is a cause of great joy for you,
even though life in this world has many trials. You did not see Jesus, yet you love him, and
you believe in him.
Faith gives you confidence to look forward to the salvation of your souls.
Jesus, I have never seen you with my physical
eyes,
but I love you and believe in you
Recording
John
20.21-29: That same Sunday evening, the doors were
locked in the room where the disciples had gathered, for fear of the
religious leaders. But Jesus appeared and stood before them,
saying "Peace be with you". He showed them his hands and his
side and said "As the Father sent me, so I am sending you". Then he breathed on them, saying "Receive the
Holy Spirit". Thomas, one of the 12 apostles, was not there
that night. When the other disciples said they had seen the Lord, he
replied "Unless I see and touch his wounded body, I refuse to
believe". Eight days later, the group was again in the
same house, with the doors locked. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus again appeared and stood before them
saying "Peace be with you". Then he said to Thomas "Put
your hand into my side. Doubt no longer, but believe". Thomas
replied "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said "You believe because you can
see me. Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believe".
Jesus, my Lord and my God, I believe in you.
Help me live and grow and die in your friendship
Recording 01
02
Reflection on the above readings: Video commentary on today's readings - in Spanish with English subtitles
Pope Francis (Joy of Gospel 270):Sometimes we are tempted to be that kind of Christian who keeps the Lord's wounds at arm's length.
Yet Jesus wants us to touch human misery, to touch the suffering flesh of others.
He hopes that we will stop looking for those personal or communal niches which shelter us from the maelstrom of human misfortune and instead enter into the reality of other people's lives and know the power of tenderness.
Whenever we do so, our lives become wonderfully (interconnected) and we experience intensely what it is to be a people, to be part of a people
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
71: Recording "Scripture
and Tradition give us access to a knowledge of the Trinity, which is revealed
with the features of a family.
The family is the image of God, who is a communion of persons.
At Christ's baptism, the Father's voice was heard, calling Jesus his beloved Son, and in this love we can recognize the Holy Spirit (cf. Mk 1:10-11).
Jesus, who reconciled all things in himself and redeemed us from sin, not only returned marriage and the family to their original form, but also raised marriage to the sacramental sign of his love for the Church
In the human family, gathered by Christ, 'the image and likeness' of the Most Holy Trinity (cf. Gen 1:26) has been restored, the mystery from which all true love flows.
Through the Church, marriage and the family receive the grace of the Holy Spirit from Christ, in order to bear witness to the Gospel of God's love".
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
52a: Recording
The foreign debt of poor countries has become a way
of controlling them, yet this is not the case where ecological debt is
concerned.
In different ways, developing countries, where the most important reserves of the biosphere are found, continue to fuel the development of richer countries at the cost of their own present and future.
The land of the southern poor is rich and mostly unpolluted, yet access to ownership of goods and resources for meeting vital needs is inhibited by a system of commercial relations and ownership which is structurally perverse.
The developed countries ought to help pay this debt by significantly limiting their consumption of non-renewable energy and by assisting poorer countries to support policies and programs of sustainable development.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
44: Recording
Pastors and the lay faithful who accompany their
brothers and sisters in faith or on a journey of openness to God must always
remember what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches quite clearly:
"Imputability and responsibility for an action can be
diminished or even nullified by ignorance, inadvertence, duress, fear, habit,
inordinate attachments, and other psychological or social factors".
Consequently, without detracting from the evangelical ideal, they need to accompany with mercy and patience the eventual stages of personal growth as these progressively occur.
I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord's mercy which spurs us on to do our best.
A small step, in the midst of great
human limitations, can be more pleasing to God than a life which appears
outwardly in order but moves through the day without confronting great
difficulties. Everyone needs to be touched by the
comfort and attraction of God's saving love, which is mysteriously at work in
each person, above and beyond their faults and failings.
------------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
To go with today's Gospel about Thomas:
.jpg)
--------------------------------------
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 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, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
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April
22
Easter Sat
Yesterday morning at the High Court, a kind judge again adjourned
the case of a Kenyan woman charged with drug trafficking .... to allow yet more
time for information to be obtained by her defence team. I've been helping her obtain
info from her family in Kenya
Speaking of Kenyan women - this one not very happy with me for
exposing her as a Drug Lady - see final section of this
file
People in HK are most welcome to attend tomorrow's 3pm prayer meeting for the
sick at St Paul's, YMT. Previous
photos
Former archbishop of Canterbury defends Britain's aid budget
Trump
pre-announces meeting with Pope
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Deuteronomy
29-30b:
This law I enjoin on you today is not beyond your strength
or beyond your reach.
It is not in heaven, so that you need to wonder
'who will go up to heaven for us and bring it down to us
so that we may hear it and keep it?'
Nor is it beyond the seas, so that you need to wonder
'who will cross the sea for us and bring it back to us,
so that we may hear it and keep it?'
No, the Word is very near to you.It is in your mouth and in your heart for your observance.
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
107: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His great love is without end. Let them say this, those the Lord has helped,
people from east and west, north and south. Some people wandered in the
desert, lost and unable to find their way to safety.
In their hunger and thirst they cried to the
Lord for help.
He rescued them and showed them the way to safety. Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for he fills the hungry with good things. Some people were prisoners in misery and
chains,
living in darkness and gloom. In their distress they cried to the Lord for
help.
He rescued them and restored their freedom. Let them thank the Lord for his goodness,
for he shatters the iron bars of prisons. Some people were sick on account of their
sins,
unable to eat, and close to death. They cried to the Lord in their need.
He healed them and saved them from the grave. Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for the wonders he does for us. Some people sailed to the sea in ships
and were caught in terrifying storms. They cried to the Lord in their need
and he calmed the sea and wind. Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for the wonders he does for us. Whoever is wise should meditate on these
things
and reflect on the love of the Lord.
Thank
you Lord, for your rescuing love
Recording 01
02 03
04
1
Corinthians 6.18-20:
We should respect our bodies as a gift from
the Lord.
Our bodies are not meant for fornication. Avoid sexual activity that avoids commitment.
Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who
lives in you.
Let people know that your body is not something to be profaned.
Jesus, please help me avoid sex outside
marriage
Recording
Luke 24.50-53: Jesus then took his disciples out of
Jerusalem to the village of Bethany.
Lifting up his hands, he blessed them. As he blessed them, he was carried up to heaven.
They worshipped him, then went back to
Jerusalem full of joy. They were continually in the Temple praising
God.
Jesus, thank you for the Gospel of Luke.
Please increase my faith in you as the One who came down from heaven, and
went back to heaven
Recording
Reflection on the above readings:
The first Easter was a time of joy .... a joy that remained with the first Christians even in time of trial. On the surface of our lives there can be storms .... but deep down there is a joy and a peace which gives us strength and courage.
-----------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
70: Recording "Pope
Benedict XVI, in his Encyclical Deus Caritas Est,
returned to the topic of the truth of the love of man and woman, which is fully
illuminated only in the love of the crucified Christ.
He stressed that 'marriage based on an exclusive and definitive love becomes an icon of the relationship between God and his people, and vice versa.
Gods way of loving becomes the measure of human love'.
Moreover, in the Encyclical Caritas in Veritate, he highlighted the importance of love as a principle of life in society, a place where we learn the experience of the common good.
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
51b: Recording The
warming caused by huge consumption on the part of some rich countries has
repercussions on the poorest areas of the world, especially Africa, where a rise
in temperature, together with drought, has proved devastating for farming.
There is also the damage caused by the export of solid waste and toxic liquids to developing countries, and by the pollution produced by companies which operate in less developed countries in ways they could never do at home, in the countries in which they raise their capital:
"We note that often the businesses which operate this way are multinationals.
They do here what they would never do in developed countries or the so-called first world.
Generally, after ceasing their activity and withdrawing, they leave behind great human and environmental liabilities such as unemployment, abandoned towns, the depletion of natural reserves, deforestation, the impoverishment of agriculture and local stock breeding, open pits, riven hills, polluted rivers and a handful of social works which are no longer sustainable"
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
43: Recording
In her ongoing discernment, the Church can
also come to see that certain customs not directly
connected to the heart of the Gospel, even some which have deep historical
roots, are no longer properly understood and appreciated.
Some of these customs may be beautiful, but they no longer serve as means of communicating the Gospel. We should not be afraid to re-examine them.
Also, the Church has some rules or precepts which may have been quite effective in their time, but no longer have the same usefulness for directing and shaping people's lives.
Saint Thomas Aquinas pointed out that the precepts which Christ and the apostles gave to the people of God "are very few".
Citing Saint Augustine, he noted that the precepts subsequently enjoined by the Church should be insisted upon with moderation "so as not to burden the lives of the faithful" and make our religion a form of servitude, whereas "God’s mercy has willed that we should be free".
This warning, issued many centuries ago, is
most timely today. It ought to be one of the criteria to be taken into account
in considering a reform of the Church and her preaching which would enable it to
reach everyone.
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
------------------------------------------
HK history exam probes Communist Party's changing line on
democracy
--------------------------------------
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 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, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
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April 21
Easter Frid
One job that takes a lot of my time these days is preparing support letters and other material for people going to court. Yesterday I spent several hours on just two cases, but it's worth the effort when I hear a judge give a 3 or 6 or even 12 month discount from a sentence. Not to mention when an acquittal happens - as happened for a Filipina a few weeks ago (.. I like to think the hours that I and others spent finding info for her from her Facebook account played a role in helping prove her innocence). Hopefully if a proposed NGO is soon set up to continue and expand and improve my work, it will have a secretary or six to do this work!
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Deuteronomy 29-30a: Moses called the whole
of Israel together and said to them:
"Keep the words of this covenant and observe them
and you will thrive in all you do.
Let there be no man or woman among you,
no clan or tribe, whose heart turns away from the Lord your God
to go and serve the gods of the nations.
If ever you are scattered from the land God is giving you,
God will bring you back when your hearts turn back to him.
The Lord will circumcise your hearts
until you love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
106: O give thanks to the Lord for he is good.
His great love is without end. They are happy who do what is right, who at all
times remember what is just. When our ancestors came out of Egypt, they forgot
the greatness of God's love. Each time they strayed, God forgave them. But still
they continued to forget God who was their saviour, God who had done such great
things for them in Egypt.
O Lord, our God, please don't
let us forget your love
Recording
1
Corinthians 5.8-11:
Get rid of all evil and wickedness from your
life. Replace them with sincerity and truth. People who do wrong will not inherit the
kingdom of God: people of immoral lives, idolaters, adulterers, catamites,
sodomites, thieves, usurers, drunkards, slanderers and swindlers. Some of you were like that once, but now you
have been washed clean and sanctified by Jesus Christ and his Spirit.
Jesus, help me avoid doing bad things. Help me do more good things
Recording
Luke
24.36-49: The disciples were still talking about what
had happened when suddenly Jesus himself stood among them. At first they
were terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said "Look at my hands and feet.
Yes, it is I indeed. Touch me and see for yourselves. A ghost has no flesh
and bones as you can see I have". Their fear turned to joy but they still
couldn't believe what they were seeing. So he asked them for something to
eat, and they gave him some grilled fish which he ate in front of them. Then he opened their minds to understand the
Scriptures, and he said "So you see how it is written that the Christ
would suffer, and on the third day rise from the dead. And that in his
name repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the
nations. Soon I will send down to you what the Father
promised (the Holy Spirit). Stay in Jerusalem until you are clothed
with this power from on high".
Jesus, increase my faith in your
resurrection, and open my mind to understand the Bible better
Recording:
01 02
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
Brain surgeons can open our brains physically. Jesus can "open minds" ..... help us move from being "closed minded" to "open-minded". And see 42, below, re how to awaken "the assent of the heart"!
-----------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
69: Recording "Saint
John Paul II devoted special attention to the family in his catecheses on human
love, in his Letter to Families Gratissimam Sane and particularly in his
Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio.
In these documents, the Pope defined the family as 'the way of the Church'.
He also offered a general vision of the vocation of men and women to love, and proposed basic guide-lines for the pastoral care of the family and for the role of the family in society.
In particular, by treating conjugal love, he described how spouses, in their mutual love, receive the gift of the Spirit of Christ and live their call to holiness".
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
51a: Recording
Inequity affects not only individuals but entire
countries; it compels us to consider an ethics of international relations.
A true "ecological debt" exists, particularly between the global north and south, connected to commercial imbalances with effects on the environment, and the disproportionate use of natural resources by certain countries over long periods of time.
The export of raw materials to satisfy markets in the industrialized north has caused harm locally, as for example in mercury pollution in gold mining or sulphur dioxide pollution in copper mining.
There is a pressing need to calculate the use of environmental space throughout the world for depositing gas residues which have been accumulating for two centuries and have created a situation which currently affects all the countries of the world.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
42: Recording
We need to remember that all
religious teaching ultimately has to be reflected in the teacher's
way of life, which awakens the assent of the heart by its nearness, love and
witness.
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
Photos from the past month or so taken by Hong Kong Betty
------------------------------------------
Last night at the weekly special meal for homeless people,
I discovered that one of our local guests who has been sleeping at McDonald's
for a long time once lived in the US for 12 years (4 years of study and 8 years
working in a restaurant) - and he speaks perfect English!
--------------------------------------
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 21st
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Yunnan
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 21st of the month, Jesus please bless
the people of Benin
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
April 20
Easter Thurs
I spent a couple of hours at the High Court yesterday morning,
for the case of an asylum seeker set up by a fellow asylum seeker who is a
well-known drug lord and well-known police informer. I came away with mixed
feelings. Case is continuing.
Mercy Sister makes a difference in Kenyan slums
Fundamentalism:
a threatening global reality
Is Fertility Awareness a natural alternative to the
Pill? (c.f.,
by chance, no 68 below. Humanae
Vitae opposed pill.)
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Deuteronomy
27-28:
Moses' teaching:
"Be silent, Israel, and listen.
Today you have become a people for the Lord your God.
A curse on anyone who breaks the commandments of the Lord.
Blessings on everyone who keeps the commandments of the Lord.
If you obey the voice of the Lord your God
you will be blessed in the town and blessed in the country.
Blessed will be the fruit of your body, the fruit of your soil,
the issue of your livestock.
Blessed will you be coming in, and blessed going out.
But if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God,
you will be accursed in the town and accursed in the country.
Accursed will be the fruit of your body, the fruit of your soil
and the issue of your livestock."
Dear
God, please help us to obey your words ... and be blessed
My
recording of this reading 01
02
Psalm
105: Give thanks to the Lord, make known his deeds among all the peoples.
O sing to him, sing his praise.
Tell all his wonderful works. Be proud of his holy name.
Let hearts that seek the Lord rejoice. Consider the Lord and his strength.
Constantly seek his face. Never forget how the Lord has helped us in the
past,
how he has protected Israel from its beginning till now.
Dear
God, please help me understand how you have been loving and protecting me
since the beginning of my life
Recording
1
Corinthians 4.15-19:
You now have many people teaching you about
Christ, but remember that it was I who introduced you to Jesus and his
Good News. Imitate my example, the way I live the
Christian life.
Jesus, help me be a good example to
other people
Recording
Luke
24.13-35: That same day, two of Jesus' disciples were
on their way from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus, about 7 km from
Jerusalem. As they talked about all that had happened,
Jesus himself joined them as they walked along. But they did not recognize
him. When Jesus asked them what they were talking
about, they said "About Jesus of Nazareth, and how our
leaders had him crucified. And how some women in our group went to Jesus'
tomb and were told by angels that he was alive". Jesus then explained the Scripture passages
which predicted his suffering and resurrection. Jesus joined the two men for an evening meal.
During the meal,
he blessed some bread and gave it to them. They then
recognized him. But he immediately vanished from their sight. They said to each other "Did not our
hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the
Scriptures to us?" Straight away they returned to Jerusalem where
the eleven apostles said to them "Yes, it is true. The Lord has
risen". Then they told their story of what had
happened on the road, and how they had recognized Jesus at the
breaking of bread
Jesus, please make my heart burn within me as
I read the Bible
Recording
01 02
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
Prisoners' hearts are moved when they receive encouraging letters from their families and friends. The basic message is: someone cares about me, someone loves me. This is also the basic message of the Bible: Someone cares about us, Someone loves us. This message should have a powerful effect on us ... make our hearts "burn"
------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
68: Recording "Blessed
Paul VI, in the wake of the Second Vatican Council, further developed the Church's
teaching on marriage and the family.
In a particular way, with the Encyclical Humanae Vitae he brought out the intrinsic bond between conjugal love and the generation of life: 'Married love requires of husband and wife the full awareness of their obligations in the matter of responsible parenthood, which today, rightly enough, is much insisted upon, but which at the same time must be rightly understood.
The exercise of responsible parenthood requires that husband and wife, keeping a right order of priorities, recognize their own duties towards God, themselves, their families and human society'.
In the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, Paul VI highlighted the relationship between the family and the Church".
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
50: Recording Instead
of resolving the problems of the poor and thinking of how the world can be
different, some can only propose a reduction in the birth rate.
At times, developing countries face forms of international pressure which make economic assistance contingent on certain policies of "reproductive health".
Yet "while it is true that an unequal distribution of the population and of available resources creates obstacles to development and a sustainable use of the environment, it must nonetheless be recognized that demographic growth is fully compatible with an integral and shared development".
To blame population growth instead of extreme and selective consumerism on the part of some, is one way of refusing to face the issues.
It is an attempt to legitimize the present model of distribution, where a minority believes that it has the right to consume in a way which can never be universalized, since the planet could not even contain the waste products of such consumption.
Besides, we know that approximately a third of all food produced is discarded, and "whenever food is thrown out it is as if it were stolen from the table of the poor".
Still, attention needs to be paid to imbalances in population density, on both national and global levels, since a rise in consumption would lead to complex regional situations, as a result of the interplay between problems linked to environmental pollution, transport, waste treatment, loss of resources and quality of life.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
41: Recording
At the same time, today's vast and rapid cultural
changes demand that we constantly seek ways of expressing unchanging truths in a
language which brings out their abiding newness.
"The deposit of the faith is one thing. The way it is expressed is another".
Let us never forget that "the expression of truth can take different forms.
The renewal of these forms of expression becomes necessary for the sake of transmitting to the people of today the Gospel message in its unchanging meaning".
------------------------------------------
Daniel Daring: Year with Matthew - 16:
Jesus
provides us with a model of prayer that is not long, not ostentatious, and not
repetitious
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
------------------------------------------
Curious cattle 'enchanted' by lone beaver
--------------------------------------
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 20th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Sichuan
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 20th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Gambia
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Thursday,
please pacify Al-Qaeda
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
April 19
Easter Wed
A young South African mother is due to be sentenced in the High
Court on May 12 for drug trafficking. Her story is here
(April 18), typed up by a friend
A meeting I attended yesterday moved one step closer to setting
up a new NGO to continue the campaign of stopping drug mules from coming to HK
and to work for better conditions for inmates in a number of fields.
--------------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
On Palm Sunday a Coptic Church in Egypt was bombed and many people killed
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Deuteronomy 26:
Moses' teaching:
"When you enter
the land the Lord your God is giving you,
you must take the first-fruits of your produce
to the priest then in office and say
'Today I declare to the Lord my God
that I have come to the land
the Lord swore to our fathers he would give us.'
After the priest receives your offering, you must declare:
'My father was a wandering Aramaean.
He went down to Egypt to find refuge there, few in number.
But then he became a nation, great and strong.
The Egyptians ill-treated us, they gave us no peace
and inflicted harsh slavery on us.
But we called on the Lord our God who heard our voice
and saw our misery, toil and oppression.
The Lord our God then brought us out of Egypt
with mighty hand and outstretched arm, with signs and wonders.
He brought us here and gave us this land,
a land where milk and honey flow.
So I now bring the first-fruits of my produce
that you, Lord, have given me'.
You are then to share these gifts with your household
and with the Levite and stranger who live among you."
Dear
Lord, help me to show gratitude for all your gifts,
by sharing what I have with those less fortunate than I
My
recording of this reading: 01
02
Psalm
104: Bless the Lord, my soul!
Lord God, how great you are. You make the clouds your chariot.
You walk on the wings of the wind. You make springs gush forth in the valleys.
They give drink to all the animals of the field. You make grass grow for the cattle
and plants to provide food for people. You give us wine to cheer our hearts
and oil to make our faces shine. You made the moon to mark the months.
The sun knows the time for its setting. How many are your works, O Lord.
In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your riches
and the sea is swarming with life. All things, great and small, look to you for
food.
You open your hand, they have their fill. You send forth your spirit, and life is
created.
You renew the face of the earth. I will sing to the Lord all my life.
May my thoughts be pleasing to him.
Bless the Lord, my soul!
Recording: 01
02
1
Corinthians 3.5-15: Apollos and I are servants who brought the
faith to you. I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but God made
things grow. You are God's building. By God's grace,
I laid the foundation, the only foundation there can be: Jesus
Christ. On that foundation you can build a house with
good or poor materials.
At the end of your life, your building will be judged by God.
Jesus, you are the foundation of my life. Help
me build a house with good material (= good deeds)
Recording
Luke
24.1-11:
On Sunday morning, at daybreak, the women
went to the tomb with the spices they had prepared. They found that the
large stone which had been put at the tomb's entrance had been rolled away.
They entered the tomb and found that the body
of Jesus was not there. Suddenly two men in brilliant clothes appeared at
their side. The men said to them "Why look among the
dead for someone who is alive? He is not here. He has risen, just as he
said he would". The women told all this to the eleven
apostles. But the apostles did not believe them.
Jesus, increase my faith in your
resurrection
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
A
prominent theme in Luke's Gospel is concern for women. So it's no surprise to
find that only Luke records that the apostles did not believe the women.
-------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
67: Recording The
Second Vatican Council, in its Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, was
concerned "to promote the dignity of marriage and the family".
The Constitution "defined marriage as a community of life and love, placing love at the centre of the family.
'True love between husband and wife' involves mutual self-giving, includes and integrates the sexual and affective dimensions, in accordance with God's plan".
The conciliar document also emphasizes "the grounding of the spouses in Christ.
Christ the Lord 'makes himself present to the Christian spouses in the sacrament of marriage' and remains with them.
In the incarnation, he assumes human love, purifies it and brings it to fulfilment.
By his Spirit, he gives spouses the capacity to live that love, permeating every part of their lives of faith, hope and charity.
In this way, the spouses are consecrated and by means of a special grace build up the Body of Christ and form a domestic church, so that the Church, in order fully to understand her mystery, looks to the Christian family, which manifests her in a real way".
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
49: Recording At
the same time we can note the rise of a false or superficial ecology which
bolsters complacency and a cheerful recklessness.
As often occurs in periods of deep crisis which require bold decisions, we are tempted to think that what is happening is not entirely clear.
Superficially, apart from a few obvious signs of pollution and deterioration, things do not look that serious, and the planet could continue as it is for some time.
Such evasiveness serves as a licence to carrying on with our present lifestyles and models of production and consumption.
This is the way human beings contrive to feed their self-destructive vices: trying not to see them, trying not to acknowledge them, delaying the important decisions and pretending that nothing will happen.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
40: Recording
The Church is herself a
missionary disciple; she needs to grow in her
interpretation of the revealed word and in her understanding of truth. It
is the task of exegetes and theologians to help "the judgment of the Church to
mature".
Within the Church countless issues are being studied and reflected upon with great freedom. Differing currents of thought in philosophy, theology and pastoral practice, if open to being reconciled by the Spirit in respect and love, can enable the Church to grow, since all of them help to express more clearly the immense riches of God's word.
For those who long for a monolithic body
of doctrine guarded by all and leaving no room for nuance, this might appear as
undesirable and leading to confusion. But in fact
such variety serves to bring out and develop different facets of the
inexhaustible riches of the Gospel
-------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
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 19th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shanxi
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 19th of the month, Jesus please
bless the people of Sudan
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
---------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
------------------------------
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
--------------------
Video: What "gay marriage" did to Massachusetts
--------------------------------------------
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
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the King.
The official launching
was
held on the Gold Coast, Australia, on January 20,
2012.
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Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡
頌 恆 神 父
jdwomi@gmail.com
HK
mobile (852) 6709 5674
China
mobile 13030213703 - out of
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