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 May 2
Images from a South African
Consulate function which I attended last Thursday night - Here
Photos of an Egyptian Drug
Lord associate based in Ukraine, responsible for a Ukrainian woman now in prison
in HK - Here
22
year old Australian woman on big drug charge in Colombia
Letter (in Indonesian) by an Indonesian woman in prison in HK for
drug trafficking, describing how she was tricked (set up) to collect a parcel of
drugs from a HK hotel. Here
(April 11)
Australia's
most famous Maths teacher: Eddie Woo. His Youtube channel has almost
4 million views!
Frightening
YouTube reports: LGBT
radical impact on educational institutions (No.
5); LGMT
infiltrating churches
(No. 6); US corporations massively
supporting LGBT agenda (No. 7). What
has happened in the US is now starting to happen in other places. Some
day our children will ask "why didn't you do more to stop this evil?"
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Deuteronomy 32b: Those whom he begot
unblemished
have become crooked, false, perverse.
Is it thus you repay the Lord,
O senseless and foolish people?
Is he not your father who created you,
he who made you, on whom you depend? Remember the days of
old,
consider the years that are past;
ask you father and he will show you,
ask your elders and they will tell you. When the Most High
gave the nations their heritage
and disposed men according to his plan,
in fixing the boundaries of the nations
he thought first of Israel's sons.
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
114, 115: When Israel came out of Egypt,
Jacob's descendents from an alien people, Judah became the Lord's temple,
Israel became his kingdom. Descendents of Israel, trust in the Lord.
He is our help and our shield. To you may the Lord grant increase,
to you and all your children. May you be blessed by the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
Thank you, Lord, for all your
blessings
Recording
1
Corinthians 13.1-13: If I am the most brilliant speaker, but don't
have love, I am just a gong booming. If I understand all mysteries, and if I have a faith that will move mountains, but don't
have love, I am nothing. Love is always patient and kind. It is never
jealous, never boastful, never conceited, never rude or selfish. Love does not take offence. It's not
resentful. Love delights in the truth. Love is always ready to excuse, to trust, to
hope and to endure whatever comes. Love is virtue Number One, greater than
faith or hope.
Jesus, please help me love like you
Recording
John
3.1-5: A religious leader said to Jesus "you
are a teacher who comes from God, for no one could perform the signs that
you do unless God were with him". Jesus replied "Unless you are born
through water and the Spirit,
you cannot enter God's kingdom".
Jesus, please help more people be baptized
through water and the Spirit
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
Today's reading from
Deuteronomy speaks of people becoming "crooked, false, perverse" ...
as in the videos at the top of this menu re the radical LGBT agenda
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
100: Recording
To
be open to a genuine encounter with others, "a kind look" is
essential.
This is incompatible with a negative attitude that readily points out other people's shortcomings while overlooking one's own.
A kind look helps us to see beyond our own limitations, to be patient and to cooperate with others, despite our differences.
Loving kindness builds bonds, cultivates relationships, creates new networks of integration and knits a firm social fabric.
In this way, it grows ever stronger, for without a sense of belonging we cannot sustain a commitment to others; we end up seeking our convenience alone and life in common becomes impossible.
Antisocial persons think that others exist only for the satisfaction of their own needs.
Consequently, there is no room for the gentleness of love and its expression.
Those who love are capable of speaking words of comfort, strength, consolation, and encouragement.
These were the words that Jesus himself spoke: "Take heart, my son!" (Mt 9:2); "Great is your faith!" (Mt 15:28); "Arise!" (Mk 5:41); "Go in peace" (Lk 7:50); "Be not afraid" (Mt 14:27).
These are not words that demean, sadden, anger or show scorn.
In our families, we must learn to imitate Jesus' own gentleness in our way of speaking to one another.
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text
Full Chinese text
60: Recording: Finally, we need to acknowledge that different approaches and lines of thought have emerged regarding this situation and its possible solutions.
At one extreme, we find those who doggedly uphold the myth of progress and tell us that ecological problems will solve themselves simply with the application of new technology and without any need for ethical considerations or deep change.
(At the other extreme are those who view men and women and all their interventions as no more than a threat, jeopardizing the global ecosystem, and consequently the presence of human beings on the planet should be reduced and all forms of intervention prohibited - I can't understand these words. Not a good translation??)
Viable future scenarios will have to be generated between these extremes, since there is no one path to a solution.
This makes a variety of proposals possible, all capable of entering into dialogue with a view to developing comprehensive solutions.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
53: Recording
Just as the commandment "Thou shalt not kill"
sets a clear limit in order to safeguard the value of human life, today we
also have to say "thou shalt not" to an
economy of exclusion and inequality.
Such an economy kills.
How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points? This is a case of exclusion.
Can we continue to stand by when food is thrown away while people are starving? This is a case of inequality.
Today everything comes under the laws of competition and the survival of the fittest, where the powerful feed upon the powerless.
As a consequence, masses of people find themselves excluded and marginalized: without work, without possibilities, without any means of escape.
Human beings are themselves considered consumer goods to be used and then discarded.
We have created a "throw away"
culture which is now spreading.
-------------------------------------
Daniel Daring: Year with Matthew -18
The promise of persistent prayer
----------------------------------
The
most notorious black market in HK doesn't involve drugs, or ivory ... but
cookies
--------------------------------------
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 2nd
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Fujian
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 2nd of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Niger
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
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--------------------------------------------------------------------
Mon May 1
Pope's trip to Egypt may be one of those "big deal" moments
How
Texas teacher colleges enforce the LGBT agenda (video no. 3)
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for St Joseph the Worker (For International Labor Day)
Genesis
1-2:
God made the world. God made the sun, the moon and the
stars....the whole universe. God said "Let there be light" and there
was light.
God made the earth with all its plants and trees
and animals and fish and birds.
God made the first people.....the first man and first woman. God made them
in his
own image and said to them
"Be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth."
God saw all that he had made, and all of it was good, very good.
Dear God, thank you for making such a
beautiful world!
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
90: O Lord you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.
Before the earth or the world
existed,
you are God, without beginning or end. For you, a thousand years are
like yesterday, come and gone so quickly. We humans have a short life,
our life is over like a sigh. Our span is 70 years,
or 80 for those who are strong. Make us know the shortness of our
life,
that we may gain wisdom of heart. In the morning, fill us with your
love.
Give success to the work of our hands.
Lord,
help us realize the shortness of our life,
that we may live our lives more wisely
Recording
Colossians
3.18 - 4.1:
Wives and husbands, understand and support
each other.
Children, be obedient to your parents.
Parents, treat your children fairly or else they will rebel. Slaves, be obedient and respectful to your
owners.
Offer up your work to the Lord, our Heavenly Owner.
Owners, be just and fair to your slaves.
Remember your Heavenly Owner.
Jesus, help
families to live
together in harmony
Recording
Matthew
13.53-58: One day Jesus went to Nazareth, his home
town.
In the prayer hall there he taught the local people. But the local people would not accept
him. They said
"Where did he get such wisdom and miraculous power?
He is just a carpenter's son. His mother is that woman called Mary.
His brothers are James, Joseph, Simon and Jude.
His sisters are here, too. He's nobody special." Jesus said to them
"A prophet is despised only in his own country and his own house".
And he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Jesus, please give me more
faith in you
.... and don't let me reject people
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
On
this International Workers/Labor Day, may the example of the carpenter whom
Jesus called "father" help us to offer up our work as a prayer to the
Lord ... like a woman who used to pray "Jesus, I don't really like washing
and ironing, but I offer it up as a prayer asking that you would keep my family
safe".
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
99: Recording To
love is also to be gentle and thoughtful, and this is conveyed by the next word,
aschemonei.
It indicates that love is not rude or impolite; it is not harsh.
Its actions, words and gestures are pleasing and not abrasive or rigid.
Love abhors making others suffer.
Courtesy "is a school of sensitivity and disinterestedness" which requires a person "to develop his or her mind and feelings, learning how to listen, to speak and, at certain times, to keep quiet".
It is not something that a Christian may accept or reject.
As an essential requirement of love, "every human being is bound to live agreeably with those around him".
Every day, "entering into the life of another, even when that person already has a part to play in our life, demands the sensitivity and restraint which can renew trust and respect.
Indeed, the deeper love is, the more it calls for respect for the other's freedom and the ability to wait until the other opens the door to his or her heart"
---------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
59: 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
52: Recording
In our time humanity is
experiencing a turning-point in its history, as we can see from the
advances being made in so many fields. We can only praise
the steps being taken to improve people's welfare in areas such as health care,
education and communications.
At the same time we have to remember that the majority of our contemporaries are barely living from day to day, with dire consequences. A number of diseases are spreading. The hearts of many people are gripped by fear and desperation, even in the so-called rich countries. The joy of living frequently fades, lack of respect for others and violence are on the rise, and inequality is increasingly evident. It is a struggle to live and, often, to live with precious little dignity.
We are in an age of knowledge and information,
which has led to new and often anonymous kinds of power.
-------------------------------------
Foreigners
trying to learn Chinese often find it difficult to pronounce certain sounds
correctly .... and Chinese trying to learn English have the same problem ...e.g.
trying to distinguish between "walk" and "work" .... so that
today can sometimes become International Walkers Day
--------------------------------------
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 1st of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Anhui
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 1st of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Congo
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sun April 30
Yesterday I joined HK Vicar General Fr Dominic Chan and CSD
Chaplains' co-ordinator Deacon Edwin Ng for a visit to Hei Ling Chau Drug Treatment
Centre. Photos here
In Egypt,
Pope delivers powerful speech for peace (inspiring!) "In order to prevent conflicts and build peace, it is
essential that we spare no effort in eliminating situations of poverty and
exploitation where extremism more easily takes root, and in blocking the flow of
money and weapons destined to those who provoke violence". New
York Times report
Chris
McDonnell, v2catholic's UK blogger, is widely quoted in this Guardian
article:
Bishops urged to review celibacy rules amid shortage of priests
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. Easter 3
Acts 2.22-36: Peter said to the crowd "You know that
Jesus of Nazareth was a man from God. You know all about the miracles he
worked. This same Jesus has been raised from the dead
by God. There are many witnesses to his resurrection. Jesus has been taken up to God's right hand.
He has received the Holy Spirit from the Father. He has poured out the Holy
Spirit on us. Know for sure that Jesus whom you crucified is
the Messiah and he is Lord".
Jesus, Messiah
Lord, please pour your Holy Spirit into my heart
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
16: Please protect me, Lord, I take refuge in
you.
You are the only source of all true happiness. I bless you, Lord, who guide and lead me.
Even at night you direct my heart. And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad.
My body shall rest in safety now and always. You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand, happiness for ever.
Thank you, Lord, for the little
joys you give us each day
....and the big joy you've prepared for us in Heaven.
Recording
1
Peter 1.1.13 - 2.3:
Delete rubbish from your minds. Control your
thinking.
Trust more in Jesus. Live the way he wants you to live,
not like the way you used to live before you learnt the truth.
Be good and holy. Let your love for each other be real and from
the heart. You are born again by the everlasting word of
the living God. Never be spiteful, or deceitful, or
hypocritical
or envious and critical of each other.
Jesus, help me live the way you want me
to live
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 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
98: Recording It
is important for Christians to show their love by the way they treat family
members who are less knowledgeable about the faith, weak or less sure in their
convictions.
At times the opposite occurs: the supposedly mature believers within the family become unbearably arrogant.
Love, on the other hand, is marked by humility; if we are to understand, forgive and serve others from the heart, our pride has to be healed and our humility must increase.
Jesus told his disciples that in a world where power prevails, each tries to dominate the other, but "it shall not be so among you" (Mt 20:26).
The inner logic of Christian love is not about importance and power; rather, "whoever would be first among you must be your slave" (Mt 20:27).
In family life, the logic of domination and competition about who is the most intelligent or powerful destroys love.
Saint Peter's admonition also applies to the family: "Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility towards one another, for 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble'' (1 Pet 5:5)
---------------------------------------------
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
51: Recording
I exhort (everyone) to an "ever watchful
scrutiny of the signs of the times". This is in fact a grave
responsibility, since certain present realities, unless
effectively dealt with, are capable of setting off processes of dehumanization
which would then be hard to reverse.
We need to distinguish clearly what might be a fruit of the kingdom from what runs counter to God's plan.
In this Exhortation I wish to consider certain
factors which can restrain or weaken the impulse of missionary renewal in the
Church, either because they threaten the life and dignity of God's people
or because they affect those who are directly involved in the Church's
institutions and in her work of evangelization.
-------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
Seen
on t-shirt in HK yesterday: LIFE IS TOO SHORT NOT TO BE
ITALIAN !
--------------------------------------
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 30th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shanghai
& Tianjin
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 30th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Haiti & Nepal
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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--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sat April 29
Pope
arrives Cairo (Jesus, please him give a safe time in
Egypt!) - updates
Rwandan refugee fulfils dream to become soldier in Australian
Army
The
family of a Russian woman in prison in HK have put posted items (in Russian) to
try to help catch the Nigerian Drug Lord Felix C. Nnadi
who sent the woman and her friend to HK - Here
(scroll down to April 27). The woman herself has written yet another letter (in
Russian) - at same link
ZDF profile:
Snowden refugees and their HK lawyer Robert Tibbo
----------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Deuteronomy
32a: The Song of Moses:
Listen, O heavens, and I will speak;
let the earth hear the words on my lips.
May my teaching fall like the rain,
my speech descend like the dew,
like rain drops on the young green,
like showers falling on the grass. For I shall praise the
name of the Lord.
O give glory to this God of ours!
The Rock - his deeds are perfect,
and all his ways are just,
a faithful God, without deceit,
a God who is right and just.
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
113: Praise, O friends of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord. May the name of the Lord be blessed
both now and for evermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting
praised be the name of the Lord. Who is like the Lord our God,
above the heavens his glory. From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
to put them in the company of royalty. To the childless wife he gives a home
and gladdens her heart with children.
May the Lord be praised from
sunrise to sunset
1
Corinthians 12.12-30:
A human body is made of many parts: arms,
legs, muscles, eyes etc.
Every part is important and needed for the body to be healthy. The church is like a body. We are the body's
members. Some of us are apostles, some prophets, some teachers etc. The members of the church must care about
every member of the church. Everyone is important. The spiritual health of
each member affects the health of the whole body.
Jesus, help me understand how your church is
like a human body
Recording
John
2.13-22: Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus went up
to Jerusalem. In the Temple he saw people selling cattle and sheep and
pigeons, with money changers sitting at their counting tables. Jesus made a whip out of some cord, then drove
the sellers out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well. He scattered the
money changers' coins, knocked their tables over, and said to the pigeon
sellers "Take all of this out of here and stop turning my Father's house
into a market". Some religious leaders asked him "What
sign can you show us to justify what you have done?" Jesus answered "Destroy this sanctuary,
and in three days I will raise it up". The leaders replied
"It has taken 46 years to build this sanctuary".
But Jesus was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when he
rose from the dead, his disciples remembered his words.
Jesus, please don't let churches and prayer
centers become centers of commerce
Recording
Reflection on the above readings:
I Corinthians speaks of the Church as Jesus' "mystical" body. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of his physical body as a sanctuary. Nobody has "body language" like Jesus!
----------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
97: Recording Love
is not boastful: The following word, perpereuetai, denotes
vainglory, the need to be haughty, pedantic and somewhat pushy.
Those who love not only refrain from speaking too much about themselves, but are focused on others; they do not need to be the centre of attention.
The word that comes next - physioutai - is similar, indicating that love is not arrogant.
Literally, it means that we do not become "puffed up" before others.
It also points to something more subtle: an obsession with showing off and a loss of a sense of reality.
Such people think that, because they are more "spiritual" or "wise", they are more important than they really are.
Paul uses this verb on other occasions, as when he says that "knowledge puffs up", whereas "love builds up" (1 Cor 8:1).
Some think that they are important because they are more knowledgeable than others; they want to lord it over them.
Yet what really makes us important is a love that understands, shows concern, and embraces the weak.
Elsewhere the word is used to criticize those who are "inflated" with their own importance (cf. 1 Cor 4:18) but in fact are filled more with empty words than the real "power" of the Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 4:19).
---------------------------------------------
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?
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
49b: Recording
If something should rightly
disturb us and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our
brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born
of friendship with Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to support them,
without meaning and a goal in life.
More than by fear of going astray, my
hope is that we will be moved by the fear of remaining shut up within structures
which give us a false sense of security, within rules which make us harsh
judges, within habits which make us feel safe, while at our door people are
starving and Jesus does not tire of saying to us: "Give them something to
eat"
-------------------------------------
A long day for me yesterday at Lai Chi Kok Reception
Centre (prison) where I had the chance, with some South American inmates, to
speak a little Spanish (I'm doing one lesson a week; now on lesson 4). Emphasis
on "a little"!
--------------------------------------
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 29th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Chongqing
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 29th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Mauritania
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
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Frid April 28
Last night I was one of many guests at a function organised by
the South African Consulate to celebrate Freedom
Day. It was a pleasure to be there and meet so
many interesting people, including the new Consul General to Hong Kong. God
bless South Africa!
Jesus, please give Pope Francis a safe trip
in Egypt today!
An
organisation which arranges for people to work as semi-volunteer English
teachers in China is looking for more recruits. Please email me if you'd like
more info: jdwomi@gmail.com
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Joshua 1: God said to Joshua:
"I will be with you, as I was with Moses.
I will not leave you or abandon you. Be strong and stand
firm
and be careful to keep all the Law which my servant Moses laid on you.
Never swerve from this
to right or left,
and then you will be happy in all you do.
Have the book of this Law always on your lips.
Meditate on it day and night,
so that you may carefully keep
everything that is written in it. Be fearless, be
confident,
for wherever you go
I the Lord your God am with you." Then Joshua said to the
people:
"Get ready, for in 3 days you will cross the Jordan River
and take possession of the land
which God is giving to you."
Dear God, thank you for the courage and confidence
that you give us
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
112: Happy are people who love and honor the Lord,
who take delight in his commands.
The children of such people will be blessed. Such people are a light in the darkness for
others.
Such people are generous, merciful and just. They take pity and help those in need.
They conduct their affairs with integrity. Open-handed they give to the poor.
Their justice and goodness will never be forgotten.
Lord, please help me do more
for the poor
Recording
1
Corinthians 12.4-10:
The Holy Spirit gives us many different gifts. Some people have the gift of wise preaching.
Some people have the gift of an extra strong faith.
Some people have the gift of healing sick people.
Some people have other gifts like the power of miracles, prophecy,
recognizing spirits, and the ability to speak in tongues.
Holy Spirit, please increase your influence in
my life.
Please give me the gift of (..name...)
Recording
John
2.1-11: Jesus, his mother and his disciples were
guests at a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The wine ran out, so Jesus' mother said to him
"They have no wine".
Jesus replied "Woman, my time for doing special things has not yet
come". His mother said to the servants
"Do whatever he tells you". There were 6 big containers there, used for
holding water. Each could hold about 35 liters. Jesus said to the servants
"Fill the containers with water" and they filled them up. Jesus then said "take some out and give
it to the man in charge of the banquet". When the man tasted
the water, it had turned to wine. The man called the bridegroom and said
"You have kept the best wine until now". This was the first public miracle done by
Jesus.
Jesus,
help me to do whatever you tell
me to do
Recording
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
Abraham, Moses, David and other Old Testament people "bargained" with God. So did Mary. So can we. Jesus in fact tells us to keep on "pestering" him, just like the widow pestered the judge.
------------------------------------------------------
'It's a war on
Christians' - Egypt's beleaguered Copts in sombre mood before papal visit
-----------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
96: Recording In
a word, love means fulfilling the last two commandments of God's Law: "You
shall not covet your neighbour's house; you shall not covet your neighbour's
wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his donkey, or
anything that is your neighbour's" (Ex 20:17).
Love inspires a sincere esteem for every human being and the recognition of his or her own right to happiness.
I love this person, and I see him or her with the eyes of God, who gives us everything "for our enjoyment" (1 Tim 6:17).
As a result, I feel a deep sense of happiness and peace.
This same deeply rooted love also leads me to reject the injustice whereby some possess too much and others too little.
It moves me to find ways of helping society's outcasts to find a modicum of joy.
That is not envy, but the desire for equality.
---------------------------------------------
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
49a: Recording
Let us go forth, then, let us
go forth to offer everyone the life of Jesus Christ.
Here I repeat for the entire Church what I have often said to the priests and laity of Buenos Aires: I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.
I do not want a Church concerned with
being at the centre and which then ends by being caught up in a web of
obsessions and procedures.
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
------------------------------------------
At last night's South Africa Consulate gathering, I met a
friendly young man who works for Google ...so I told him about the huge pet
turtle that used to be based at a stationery (no pun intended) shop in Yau Ma
Tei. The turtle, one of the world's slowest creatures, had the name ..."Google"!
--------------------------------------
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 28th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Beijing
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 28th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Lesotho
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Thur April 27
Yesterday I was at Tai Lam women's centre (prison) from 9.30am to 5.30pm .... a long but worthwhile day. The good news: no new arrivals from Africa or South America arrested at HK airport this year. (Thank you Jesus!). The bad news: one woman from South America arrested in May last year is due to be sentenced at the High Court today, but she had no chance to join my anti-drug campaign (and get a slight reduction in her sentence) because I met her only yesterday for the first time. Reason: she only just turned 21 and up until a few weeks ago was in a centre for women under 21. I hope the nascent NGO now being formed to continue and expand my work will in the future make sure that all inmates arrested at HK airport will have the chance to join the campaign before sentencing.
Pope gives TED talk - 'We build future together'
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Deuteronomy
31: Moses said to the
people:
"I am 120 years old and can no longer come and go as I will.
The Lord has told me I will not cross the Jordan."
Moses then said to Joshua in the presence of all the people:
"Be strong, stand firm. you are going with this people
into the land promised by the Lord.
The Lord himself will lead you; he will be with you;
he will not fail you or desert you.
Have no fear; do not be disheartened by anything."
Dear
Lord, please help me remember that you are with me every day. Please don't let anything or anyone dishearten me
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
111: I will thank the Lord with all my heart.
Great are the works of the Lord,
to be pondered by all who love him. His goodness stands firm for ever.
The Lord is compassion and love. His precepts are for all peoples and all
times.
He is to be honored by all nations. To love and honor the Lord
is the beginning of wisdom.
Dear Lord, please help me to
love and honor you every day
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
John
1.35-51:
John the Baptist told his disciples Andrew
and John that Jesus was the Chosen One of God. Andrew and John then
followed Jesus. Andrew took his brother Simon to Jesus. Jesus
changed Simon's name to Peter, and Peter followed Jesus. Jesus met Philip and said to him
"Follow me". Philip called one more man, Nathanael
(Bartholomew) and said to him "we have found the one Moses and the
prophets wrote about. He is Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth".
Jesus, please help me introduce more people to
know and love you
Recording
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
When someone dies, we go to a funeral service, a funeral Mass, to pray for the deceased person. Today's readings from First Corinthians reminds us that every Mass is a funeral Mass - at which we remember a deceased Person.
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
95: Recording Saint
Paul goes on to reject as contrary to love an attitude expressed by the verb zeloi
- to be jealous or envious.
This means that love has no room for discomfiture at another person's good fortune (cf. Acts 7:9; 17:5).
Envy is a form of sadness provoked by another's prosperity; it shows that we are not concerned for the happiness of others but only with our own well-being.
Whereas love makes us rise above ourselves, envy closes us in on ourselves.
True love values the other person's achievements.
It does not see him or her as a threat.
It frees us from the sour taste of envy.
It recognizes that everyone has different gifts and a unique path in life.
So it strives to discover its own road to happiness, while allowing others to find theirs
---------------------------------------------
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
48: Recording
If the whole Church takes up this missionary
impulse, she has to go forth to everyone without exception.
But to whom should she go first?
When we read the Gospel we find a clear indication: not so much our friends and wealthy neighbours, but above all the poor and the sick, those who are usually despised and overlooked, "those who cannot repay you"
There can be no room for doubt or for explanations which weaken so clear a message.
Today and always, "the poor are the privileged recipients of the Gospel" and the fact that it is freely preached to them is a sign of the kingdom that Jesus came to establish.
We have to state, without mincing words, that
there is an inseparable bond between our faith and the poor. May we never
abandon them.
-------------------------------------
Daniel Daring: Year with Matthew - 17:
The community of Rome was composed of so-called "strong" Christians of Gentile origin and "weak" Christians of Jewish origin. Both groups passed judgment on each other.
------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
------------------------------------------
At recent HK meeting of HSBC Directors & shareholders, one director said "we are indebted to our shareholders ..."
--------------------------------------
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 27th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Tibet
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 27th of the month, Jesus please
bless the people of Uganda
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Thursday,
please pacify Al-Qaeda
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Wed April 26
Letter from a young HK Nepal
man - describing the drug problem afflicting his generation ...."15 of my
friends have died".
Here
(April 24)
Abortion
proving Democrats outdo Republicans in self-destruction
The expulsion of pro-life candidates may doom the
Democrats to minority status.
Yesterday, thanks to the kind help of some HK friends, I was able
to help secure the release on bail of a Kenyan woman facing a small charge. Lady
stayed last night at the new women's emergency shelter of "MercyHK", a
nascent NGO formed to provide accommodation for special people. I accompanied
the lady from the High Court detention centre to the shelter .... a very special
experience being with someone who has just come out of detention. Thank
you Jesus!
--------------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
Hey
you, stop being so critical!
Being
critical can, in fact, be a sign of sincere friendship
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Deuteronomy 29-30d:
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today:
I set before you life or death, blessing or curse.
Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants
may live in the love of the Lord your God,
obeying his voice, clinging to him.
For in this your life consists,
and on this depends your long stay in the land
which the Lord swore to your fathers
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob he would give them."
Dear
Lord, please help more and more people
to choose life and blessings...and not to turn their backs on you
Psalms
109-110: O God whom I praise,
do not be silent,
for people are bombarding me with words of hate. They speak to me with
lying tongues
and attack me without cause. They repay me evil for
good.
While I pray for them, they show me hatred. I have become an object
of scorn.
Help me, Lord my God.
Lord,
when people are unkind to me, please give me the grace to pray for them
Recording
1
Corinthians 10.16-11.1: The cup that we bless is a communion with the
blood of Christ.
The bread that we break is a communion with the body of Christ. Avoid anything to do with idol worship.
It doesn't make sense to share in the table of the Lord and in the table
of demons. Whatever you eat, whatever you drink, whatever
you do at all,
do it for the glory of God. Never do anything offensive to anyone. Try to
be helpful to everyone at all times, not anxious for your own advantage,
but for the advantage of others, so that they may be saved. Take me for your model, as I take Christ.
Jesus, please help me imitate you in my daily
life
Recording
John
1.5, 19-34:
John the Baptist was sent by God as a witness
to the people about the presence of the Word among them. When religious leaders asked John "Who
are you?", he replied "I am, as the prophet Isaiah prophesied, a
voice crying out: make a straight way for the Lord". When Jesus came to the river Jordan where John
was baptizing, John said "Look, there is the lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world. He is far more important than I am, because he
existed (as the Word) before I was born. I saw the Holy Spirit come down on him like a
dove. He will baptize people with the Holy Spirit. He is the Chosen
One of God"
Jesus, lamb of God, Chosen One of God, please
baptize me with the Holy Spirit
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
In
today's first reading, Moses tells us to choose life. In the story from US at
top of this menu, the Democratic Party is saying if you choose life you cannot
be a Democratic candidate. c.f. Pope John Paul II's words: "We are facing an enormous and dramatic clash between good and evil, death and life, the
'culture of death' and the 'culture of life'. We find ourselves not only faced with but necessarily in the midst of this conflict: we are all involved and we all share in it, with the inescapable responsibility of choosing to be unconditionally
pro-life" (Evangelium
Vitae)
-------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of Love - on love in the family
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
94: Recording Throughout
the text, it is clear that Paul wants to stress that love is more than a mere
feeling.
Rather, it should be understood along the lines of the Hebrew verb "to love"; it is "to do good".
As Saint Ignatius of Loyola said, "Love is shown more by deeds than by words".
It thus shows its fruitfulness and allows us to experience the happiness of giving, the nobility and grandeur of spending ourselves unstintingly, without asking to be repaid, purely for the pleasure of giving and serving.
---------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
47: Recording
The Church is called to be the house of the Father,
with doors always wide open.
One concrete sign of such openness is that our church
doors should always be open, so that if someone, moved by the Spirit,
comes there looking for God, he or she will not find a closed door.
There are other doors that should not be closed either.
Everyone can share in some way in the life of the Church; everyone can be part of the community, nor should the doors of the sacraments be closed for simply any reason.
This is especially true of the sacrament which is itself "the door": baptism.
And the Eucharist, although it is the fullness of sacramental life, is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.
These convictions have pastoral consequences that we are called to consider with prudence and boldness.
Frequently, we act as arbiters of grace rather than its facilitators.
But the Church is not a tollhouse; it is the house of the Father, where there is a place for everyone, with all their problems.
-------------------------------------
Oops! Chinese defence
ministry's big Photoshop fail
--------------------------------------
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 26th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Xinjiang
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 26th of the month, Jesus please
bless the people of Togo
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, 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
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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