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 July 4
How could Thai police let cocaine mastermind flee, asks
HK lawmaker
(see my comments - "mricci")
My article in today's Ming Pao newspaper has the topic: Is it ok to marry your cousin? It is on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK". Free access to article with recording today from about noon to 8pm HK time. Text without recording
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
1 Samuel 25-31:
Samuel died and was buried in his home town
of Ramah.
Saul continued to try to capture David. David and his band of 600 soldiers
spent more than a year in Philistine territory. They stayed with Achish, king of
Gath.
They fought against the enemies of Achish. Achish sent David away when the Philistines
made war on Israel.
Saul and his son Jonathan died in this war.
Dear
God, please protect and help all refugees
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
32: Happy is the person whose sin is forgiven.
For a while I refused to ask for forgiveness,
and my body paid the penalty. But then I said "Lord, forgive me"
and my spirit and body revived.
Lord, when I do wrong, please give me the grace to say sorry and ask forgiveness
Recording
Philippians
3.20 - 4.1: Our homeland is in heaven. We wait for the
Savior from heaven who will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours
into copies of his glorious body. He will do this by the same power he has as
C.E.O. of the universe. So, do not stop running but
remain faithful in the Lord.
Jesus, please increase my longing for heaven
Recording
John
19.17-24: Carrying his own crossbeam, Jesus went out of
the city to the place called Golgotha, where they crucified him with two
other men, one on each side of him. Pilate had the charge against Jesus written
out and attached to the top of the cross. It read "Jesus of Nazareth,
King of the Jews". When the soldiers had finished crucifying
Jesus, they divided his clothes among them.
Jesus nailed to the Cross, thank you for
suffering for the salvation of the world
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
When
the religious leaders told Pilate to use "this man said I am King of the
Jews", not "King of the Jews", Pilate replied "What I have
written, I have written". Why did he do this? To infuriate the religious
leaders? Because something inside his heart was telling him that Jesus was
telling the truth?
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text
Full Chinese text
113b: Recording: If architecture reflects the spirit of an age, our megastructures and drab apartment blocks express the spirit of globalized technology, where a constant flood of new products coexists with a tedious monotony.
Let us refuse to resign ourselves to this, and continue to wonder about the purpose and meaning of everything.
Otherwise we would simply legitimate the present situation and need new forms of escapism to help us endure the emptiness.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
117a: Recording
When properly understood, cultural
diversity is not a threat to Church unity.
The Holy Spirit, sent by the Father and the Son, transforms our hearts and enables us to enter into the perfect communion of the blessed Trinity, where all things find their unity.
He builds up the communion and harmony of the people of God.
The same Spirit is that harmony, just as he is the bond of love between the Father and the Son.
It is he who brings forth a rich variety of gifts, while at the same time creating a unity which is never uniformity but a multifaceted and inviting harmony.
Evangelization joyfully acknowledges these varied treasures which the Holy Spirit pours out upon the Church.
We would not do justice to the logic of the
Incarnation if we thought of Christianity as monocultural and monotonous.
-------------------------------------
They're the youngest side in the competition, and had a
courageous win last Sunday (only their 3rd win of the season) ....I was
privileged to be able to listen to the final quarter when they came back from 27
points down. Go
Brisbane Lions!
--------------------------------------
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 4th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Guangdong
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 4th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Mozambique
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
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Mon July 3
China tears up promises to UK
"The Sino-British joint declaration, as an historical document, no
longer has any practical significance, and it is not at all binding for the
central government's management over Hong Kong"
Pope replaces top
critic in latest move to make church more inclusive
Letter
from a South African woman in prison in HK
for drug trafficking - with message for the Nigerian Drug Lord in Dubai
who gave her the drugs on February 27, 2016 - Ezenwa
Ifeanyi (with his photo).
Here
Guy in photo also in very last photo here
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
1
Samuel 20-24: Jonathan again tried to help David make peace
with Saul.
But Saul was full of anger and just wanted to kill David. David then became a nomad, roaming from place
to place,
continually pursued by Saul's soldiers. David once had a chance to kill Saul
but David refused to kill him. David said: "Saul is the anointed one of
the Lord.
It is wrong for me to hurt him." Even though Saul hated and hunted David,
David respected and protected Saul.
Dear God, when other
people treat me unkindly,
please help me to be kind to them, as David was kind to Saul
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
31: Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in
distress.
My eyes are full of tears, my heart full of sorrow. Everyone makes fun of me. My friends don't want to know me.
Save me, Lord, from this mess. I praise you Lord, for you protect those who trust you.
You keep them safe from slander and lies. Be strong, let your heart take courage,
all you who trust in the Lord.
I trust in you, Lord. My life
is in your hands
Philippians
3.12-14: I am not yet perfect. I have not yet won the
race.
But I am still running,
trying to capture the prize for which Christ Jesus captured me. I forget the past, and strain ahead for what
is still to come.
I am racing for the finish,
for the prize to which God calls us to receive in Christ Jesus.
Jesus, please help me keep running each day!
Recording
John
19.4-16: Pilate now put Jesus on display and again
told the leaders
"I find no case against him". The leaders replied "According to our Law
he must die, since he claims to be the Son of God. If you free him, you
are no friend of the Roman Emperor". Eventually Pilate gave in to them and handed
Jesus over to be crucified.
Jesus, please help all judges to stand up for
the truth and not make false judgments
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
Pilate
gave in to pressure. Judges
in Hong Kong right now are under a lot of pressure from Beijing to be servants
of the government. May the Good Lord give them courage to resist pressure from
any quarters.
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
113a: Recording
There is also the fact that
people no longer seem to believe in a happy future; they no longer have blind
trust in a better tomorrow based on the present state of the world and our
technical abilities.
There is a growing awareness that scientific and technological progress cannot be equated with the progress of humanity and history, a growing sense that the way to a better future lies elsewhere.
This is not to reject the possibilities which technology continues to offer us.
But humanity has changed profoundly, and the accumulation of constant novelties exalts a superficiality which pulls us in one direction.
It becomes difficult to pause and recover depth in life
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
116b: Recording
In the diversity of peoples who experience
the gift of God, each in accordance with its own culture, the
Church expresses her genuine catholicity and shows forth the "beauty
of her varied face".
In the Christian customs of an evangelized people, the Holy Spirit adorns the Church, showing her new aspects of revelation and giving her a new face.
Through inculturation, the Church "introduces peoples, together with their cultures, into her own community", for "every culture offers positive values and forms which can enrich the way the Gospel is preached, understood and lived".
In this way, the Church takes up the
values of different cultures and becomes sponsa ornata monilibus suis,
"the bride bedecked with her jewels" (cf. Is 61:10).
-------------------------------------
At
last night's weekly gathering for the poor at St Paul's Yau Ma Tei, I noticed a
number of men using earphones ...even during the brief Bible reading. Then the
penny fell: they were listing to the horse racing!
--------------------------------------
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 3rd of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Gansu
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 10th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Burundi
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
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Sun July 2
We are now in the second half of 2017. The first half has been a time of turmoil. Will the second half be any better? What can we ordinary people do to help our troubled world find its way? One thing is try to be better people ourselves ...following the theory that all change starts "on the inside" ....as in this little booklet based on the teaching of Gandhi, Mandela and Jesus
Article in an Irish newspaper:
China
woos Hong Kong youth with rap ahead of handover anniversary
What
can HK Catholics learn from the past 20 years?
HK handover hid
story of decade: Asian financial crash began 20
years ago today
More Revelations of Intolerance from SSM
Activists
California
has banned state employees from traveling on official business to four
additional states that have passed anti-LGBTQ legislation.
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 13
2 Kings 4:
A poor widow whose husband had been a
prophet asked Elisha for help when a creditor demanded her two sons
as slaves. All she had was a small pot of oil, not enough
to pay her debts. Elisha told her to get many jars,
and start pouring oil from the pot into the jars. As she and her sons did this, the oil did not
run out.
Elisha told her to sell the oil to pay off her debts. At another time Elisha brought back to
life a dead child. He also once brought about a miraculous
multiplication of bread.
Dear God, you once worked
miracles by the prayers of Elisha.
Please let miracles be done in our day.
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
89: I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.
Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever.
The heavens proclaim your wonders, O Lord.
The heavens are yours, the world is yours. Blessed the people who find joy in you,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face.
Thank you, Lord, for our
beautiful world
Recording
Romans
6.3-11: When we were baptized, two things
happened - 1: We went into Jesus' tomb and joined him in death. We died. - 2: We rose from the dead with Jesus. We came back to life.
This dying and rising means we have died to
sin, and risen to a new life.
We died to an old life, and we came
back to a new life.
We have been re-born, born again.
Jesus, please help me leave my old life
behind. Help me live a new life with you
Recording
Matthew
10.17-42: Jesus said to his apostles
"Because you follow me and speak my message,
therefore you will be arrested and put in prison. But don't worry about what to say for your
defense.
What to say will be given you by the Holy Spirit. Boldly proclaim my message
and do not be afraid of persecution. Take up your cross and follow me.
Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me
is not worthy of me."
Jesus, please give me more
courage
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Spanish with English subtitles
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
112: Recording
Yet we can once more broaden our vision.
We have the freedom needed to limit and direct technology; we can put it at the service of another type of progress, one which is healthier, more human, more social, more integral.
Liberation from the dominant technocratic paradigm does in fact happen sometimes, for example, when cooperatives of small producers adopt less polluting means of production, and opt for a non-consumerist model of life, recreation and community.
Or when technology is directed primarily to resolving people's concrete problems, truly helping them live with more dignity and less suffering.
Or indeed when the desire to create and contemplate beauty manages to overcome reductionism through a kind of salvation which occurs in beauty and in those who behold it.
An authentic humanity, calling for a new synthesis, seems to dwell in the midst of our technological culture, almost unnoticed, like a mist seeping gently beneath a closed door.
Will the promise last, in spite of everything, with all that is authentic rising up in stubborn resistance?
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
116a: Recording
In the first two Christian millennia, countless
peoples have received the grace of faith, brought it to
flower in their daily lives and handed it on in the language of their own
culture.
Whenever a community receives the message of salvation, the Holy Spirit enriches its culture with the transforming power of the Gospel.
The history of the Church shows that Christianity
does not have simply one cultural expression, but rather, "remaining
completely true to itself, with unswerving fidelity to the proclamation of the
Gospel and the tradition of the Church, it will also reflect the different faces
of the cultures and peoples in which it is received and takes root".
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
HK Kwai Chung St John Parish group + HK Louise p.i.m.e. and group
------------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
Flight delayed after woman throws coins into engine for
"luck"
--------------------------------------
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 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, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
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Sat July 1
Yesterday in the hospital section of Lai Chi Kok
Reception Centre (men's prison) ....where there is live TV....as I saw news of
President Xi's mililary parade, I couldn't help thinking: am I in HK or North
Korea?: China flexes military muscle in
HK
One inmate I saw in the hospital section ...his first detention
for many years...is a man who often came to my home in my early days in Temple
Street. He's the man sitting closest to lady in red (his wife) in
this photo. And ....man in pink shirt
came out of detention at Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution yesterday
(detention no. 50!)! One in, one out!
Buhari on life support, Nigerian governor claims.
Jesus, please don't let Nigeria descend into chaos!
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
1
Samuel 19: Saul's
son Jonathan urged his father not to hate David, but Saul again tried to kill
David, this time with a spear. David
then escaped from his home and went to live with Samuel at Ramah. Three times
Saul sent men to capture David. Each time they were overcome by the spirit of
the Lord and they went into an ecstasy. Then
Saul himself went to Ramah and he too went into ecstasy.
Dear Lord, please protect people who are being unfairly treated by others
Psalms
29-30: The Lord gives us strength, the Lord blesses
us with peace.
Thank you, Lord, for so often helping and healing me.
I cried to you when sickness surrounded me, and you healed me. You changed my mourning into dancing.
So I will thank you always.
Thank you, Lord, for all the
times you have healed me
Recording
Philippians
3.7-11:
Because of Christ, I have come to consider
all my former advantages as a scholar as disadvantages. Nothing is more important than knowing Christ
Jesus my Lord. For him I have accepted the loss of
everything, and I look on everything as so much rubbish if only I can have
Christ. All I want is to know Christ and the power of
his resurrection.
I want to share his sufferings by carrying the Cross with him. This is the way I can hope to receive eternal
life.
Christ Jesus my Lord, knowing you is No. 1
Recording
John
19.1-3: Pilate then had Jesus taken away and scourged.
The soldiers used thorns to make a
crown and pushed this into Jesus' head. They dressed him in a purple cloak and mocked
him saying
"Hail, king of the Jews". They slapped him in the face.
Jesus, scourged and made fun of, please help
me not to hurt anyone by my words or actions
Recording
Reflection on the above readings:
For a scientific study of the scourging - see
this 55 min. documentary: The
Silent Witness
----------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
111: Recording Ecological
culture cannot be reduced to a series of urgent and partial responses to the
immediate problems of pollution, environmental decay and the depletion of
natural resources.
There needs to be a distinctive way of looking at things, a way of thinking, policies, an educational program, a lifestyle and a spirituality which together generate resistance to the assault of the technocratic paradigm.
Otherwise, even the best ecological initiatives can find themselves caught up in the same globalized logic.
To seek only a technical remedy to each environmental problem which comes up is to separate what is in reality interconnected and to mask the true and deepest problems of the global system.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
115: Recording
The People of God is
incarnate in the peoples of the earth, each of which has its own culture.
The concept of culture is valuable for grasping the various expressions of the Christian life present in God’s people.
It has to do with the lifestyle of a given society, the specific way in which its members relate to one another, to other creatures and to God.
Understood in this way, culture embraces the totality of a people’s life.
Each people in the course of its history develops its culture with legitimate autonomy.
This is due to the fact that the human person, "by nature stands completely in need of life in society" and always exists in reference to society, finding there a concrete way of relating to reality.
The human person is always situated in a culture: "nature and culture are intimately linked"
Grace supposes culture, and God's gift
becomes flesh in the culture of those who receive it.
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
HK Louise p.i.m.e. and group- English in Yunfu and visit to Leper Center
------------------------------------------
Last Wednesday I had happy reunion with a student of mine
of 43 years ago at Mazenod College in Melbourne. He and his wife were in HK for
a one-day stop over on their way back to Australia from Europe. We had breakfast
together in a local restaurant before a visit to my home. But breakfast was
embarrassing. When I ordered two cups of white tea for them, what they received
was two cups of hot milk. My second effort not much better: two cups of tea with
condensed milk that produced an undrinkable flavor. Man and dear wife so polite.
They just kept smiling. So much for my efforts at learning Cantonese for 32
years!
--------------------------------------
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 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, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
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Frid June 30
There are a lot of serious items below, so....let's start with
a
smile
(from Kowloon Central Post Office
...trying to stop homeless people from using a post office corridor as a
dormitory):
Yesterday as I prepared an article for next Tuesday's Ming
Pao newspaper, I re-read this disturbing article.
First
cousin marriages in Muslim communities are putting hundreds of children at risk
Progress
Report to Signatories of the Open Letter to the Bishops of Australia
(re Royal Commission into sexual abuse of children)
HK woman
with 8kg of cocaine at Taiwan airport
Letter in Spanish from a
Venezuelan woman in prison in HK for
drug trafficking, with moving artwork on page 3 -
here
(June 16)
A million bottles a minute
- World's plastic binge as dangerous as climate change
Surfers Against Sewage are campaigning for a
refundable deposit scheme to be introduced to encourage reuse
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
1 Samuel 18:
After one of David's victories against the
Philistines,
the Israelite women came to meet David and Saul singing
"Saul has killed thousands, David tens of thousands." From that day Saul became jealous
of David. Saul realized that the Lord was
with David
and that the people loved David. Saul was filled with jealousy of
David
and wanted to kill him. Saul more and more treated David
like an enemy.
Dear God, please don't let me
jealous of other people
Psalm
28: To you, O Lord, I call, my rock, hear me.
If you do not heed, I shall become like people in the grave. Lord, you are my strength and my shield.
In you my heart trusts. Thank you, Lord, for so often hearing my
prayer.
I will always thank and praise you. You are the strength of your people Israel.
Save your people. Be our shepherd and carry us for ever.
Lord, please help people who
are in big danger today
Recording
Philippians
2.13-16:
It is God who gives us the spiritual energy to
be good and to do good. Don't be someone who is always complaining and
arguing. Live a life of light in our dark world.
May your life of light offer the world the word of life.
Jesus, help me avoid complaining and
arguing
Recording
John
18.28-40: The religious leaders took Jesus to the Roman
governor, Pilate. Pilate asked Jesus "Are you the King of the
Jews?" Jesus replied "My kingdom is not a
kingdom of this world. But I am a king. I came into this world to bear
witness to the truth". After further questioning, Pilate said to the
leaders "I find no case against him, so how about I release him
according to the custom of releasing one prisoner at Passover? At this the leaders shouted "Not this
man, but Barabbas".
Barabbas was a bandit.
Jesus, help me be a better witness to
good values
Recording
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
A prayer which I encourage inmates to use when they are in court to be sentenced: "Jesus in court before Pilate, I give you my heart. Jesus in court before Pilate, please bless the judge, the lawyers and all in the courtroom"
----------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
110b: Recording
A science which would offer solutions to the great
issues would necessarily have to take into account the data generated by other
fields of knowledge, including philosophy and social ethics; but this is a
difficult habit to acquire today.
Nor are there genuine ethical horizons to which one can appeal.
Life gradually becomes a surrender to situations conditioned by technology, itself viewed as the principal key to the meaning of existence.
In the concrete situation confronting us, there are a number of symptoms which point to what is wrong, such as environmental degradation, anxiety, a loss of the purpose of life and of community living.
Once more we see that "realities are more important than ideas".
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
114: Recording
Being Church means being God's people, in accordance
with the great plan of his fatherly love.
This means that we are to be God's leaven in the midst of humanity.
It means proclaiming and bringing God's salvation into our world, which often goes astray and needs to be encouraged, given hope and strengthened on the way.
The Church must be a place of mercy freely given,
where everyone can feel welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged to live the
good life of the Gospel.
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
------------------------------------------
Check the comments at end of this
article about President Xi's visit to HK
--------------------------------------
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 30th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shanghai
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
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
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Thur
June 29
Feast of Saints
Peter & Paul (...Jesus
recruits imperfect people...)
This is disturbing:
Pope's
letter for World Day of the Poor (Nov 19)
"Let us love, not with word but with deeds"
Letter in English from a South African
man in prison in HK on a drug trafficking charge - here
(June 22)
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
c.f. readings for Feast of Peter & Paul
Acts
12.1-17: About this time, King Herod began
persecuting the church. He beheaded the apostle James, brother of John. He
arrested Peter during Passover time. He put Peter in prison and planned to have
him put on trial and killed after Passover. Each day Peter was in prison, the
believers stormed heaven praying for him. On the night before he was to be put
on trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with chains, with
more soldiers at the prison entrance. Suddenly Peter's cell was filled with
light, and an angel
told him to get up. The chains fell from his hands. The angel led Peter out of
the prison, without the guards knowing what was happening. Peter then left for
another place. Herod was unable to find him.
Jesus, please help Christians who are in prison for their faith
My recording of this reading
Psalm
34: I will bless the Lord at all times, his
praise always on my lips. In the Lord my soul shall make its boast, the humble
shall hear and be glad. Glorify the Lord with me, together let us praise his
name. I sought the Lord and he answered me. From all my terrors he set me free. The
angel of the Lord is encamped around those who
revere the Lord, to rescue them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. They are
happy who seek refuge in him. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted. Those
whose spirits are crushed he will save.
Lord, by our Bible reading and prayer, may we taste and see your goodness
each day
Recording
2
Timothy 4.6-8:
As for me, my life of service to the Lord is nearly over.
I have fought the good fight to the end. I have run the race to the finish.
I have kept the faith. The Lord will soon give me the best of all prizes:
eternal life in heaven. He will give it not only to me, but to everyone who
has loved him sincerely in this life.
Jesus, help me keep running to the finish line
Recording
Matthew 16.13-20: One
day Jesus asked his disciples "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
The disciples replied "Some people say you are one of the famous
prophets". Jesus then asked them "And what about you. Who do you
say I am?" Peter answered "You are the Christ, the Son of the living
God". Jesus then said to Peter "Blessed are you, for my Father in
heaven has revealed this to you. So I now say to you: you are Peter ('the rock')
and on this rock I will build my church. I will give you the keys of the
kingdom."
Jesus, Son of God, please help the church to continue your work on
earth
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
1: Following different routes, Peter and Paul arrived at the same destination
2: Video commentary - in Spanish with English subtitles
-------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
110a: Recording The
specialization which belongs to technology makes it difficult to see the larger
picture.
The fragmentation of knowledge proves helpful for concrete applications, and yet it often leads to a loss of appreciation for the whole, for the relationships between things, and for the broader horizon, which then becomes irrelevant.
This very fact makes it hard to find adequate ways of solving the more complex problems of today's world, particularly those regarding the environment and the poor; these problems cannot be dealt with from a single perspective or from a single set of interests.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
113: Recording
The salvation which God has wrought, and the
Church joyfully proclaims, is for everyone. God
has found a way to unite himself to every human being in every age. He
has chosen to call them together as a people and not as isolated individuals.
No one is saved by himself or herself, individually, or by his or her own efforts. God attracts us by taking into account the complex interweaving of personal relationships entailed in the life of a human community.
This people which God has chosen and called is the Church. Jesus did not tell the apostles to form an exclusive and elite group. He said: "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Mt 28:19).
Saint Paul tells us in the people of God, in the Church, "there is neither Jew or Greek... for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:28).
To those who feel far from God and the Church,
to all those who are fearful or indifferent, I would like to say this: the Lord,
with great respect and love, is also calling you to be a part of his people!
-------------------------------------
After they read today's first Bible reading, above, many
prison inmates ask for that same angel to visit them!
--------------------------------------
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 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, Thursday,
please pacify Al-Qaeda
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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Wed June 28
President
Xi Jinping is due in HK tomorrow for a three day visit. He is very unwise (badly
advised?) to be here on HK's annual protest day, July 1. Among ordinary HK
people - especially young people - there is no interest in celebrating the 20th
anniversary of HK's return to the Mainland on July 1. Not just no interest but
great opposition ....because...increasingly over the past 20 years, Beijing has
been bullying HK. Beijing's bullying has alienated a whole generation.
From refugee to community
leader - how Sudanese coach is changing lives with basketball
Lots
of important information:
Guardian
report on euthanasia debate
Re-launched website....just click:
--------------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
How
many times have we heard through our media the pain-filled voices of those who
suffered both in
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
1 Samuel 17: The Philistine and Israelite armies prepared
for battle.
The Philistines were on one hill, the Israelites on an opposite hill,
with a valley between them. The Philistines produced a giant warrior,
Goliath,
who challenged the Israelites to find one man to fight him.
Goliath said: "If I win, you become our slaves;
if I am killed, we will become your slaves." For many weeks Goliath issued his
challenge,
but no Israelite soldier was brave enough to fight Goliath. Then David visited the army camp and heard
Goliath's words.
He offered to fight Goliath. Some people made fun of David,
but David knew he would be helped by the Lord. David took 5 smooth stones from the river bed
and with his sling in his hand he went to fight Goliath. When Goliath saw the young boy David,
Goliath insulted and ridiculed him. But David took out one of his stones
and slung it at Goliath. The stone hit Goliath on the forehead
and he dropped to the ground. David then used Goliath's sword to kill him
and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion
was dead,
they fled in fear, chased by the Israelites who defeated them. Saul put David in charge of his army
and David had many victories. David and Saul's son Jonathan became good
friends.
Dear God, please help me
just as you helped David
Psalm
27: The Lord is my light and my help, whom shall
I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life, before whom shall I shrink? Though
an army encamp against me, even then would I trust. There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this
I long:
to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. It is your face, O Lord, that I seek. Hide not
your face.
I am sure I will see your goodness in the land of the living. Hope in the Lord, hold firm and take heart.
Hope in the Lord!
Lord, you are my light and my
help.
I will always praise you.
Philippians
2.5-11: O Lord, unite us in your love
and keep our minds in you. O Lord, unite us in your love
and keep our minds in you. Though you were God in state divine
you did not cling to what you were.
No, you shed your glory's shine
so as to live just like a slave. O Lord, unite us in your love
and keep our minds in you. You came on earth in human form
and you shared our troubled life.
A humbler man there never was,
even in death obedient. Yes, Lord, death upon a cross,
yes, upon a cross. Therefore are you raised on high
and you have the name of names.
At that name should bend the knee
and tongue confess: Jesus Christ is LORD.
And tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD.
And tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD.
To the glory of God the Father
Recording
John
18.15-27:
The main religious leader interrogated
Jesus about his teaching. Jesus told him "I have spoken openly in
prayer halls and in the Temple. I have said nothing in secret. The people
can tell you what I said". At these words, one of the guards slapped
Jesus in the face, saying "Don't speak to the leader like that".
Jesus replied "If I said something wrong, point it
out. But if there was nothing wrong with my words, why did you hit
me?" Meanwhile Peter was outside in the courtyard,
keeping warm by a fire. Three times he was asked by different people if he
was a disciple of Jesus. Three times he replied "I am not".
After his third denial, a rooster crowed
Jesus, on trial before the leaders, please
bless everyone on trial today, in every country
Reflection on the above readings:
We rightly bow our heads at the name "Jesus". But in today's reading from Philippians, when Paul quotes the words of a hymn to "bend the knee", he's not talking about reverencing the name "Jesus" but the name "LORD" (= GOD) which here clearly states the divinity of Jesus!
-------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
109b: Recording Yet
by itself the market cannot guarantee integral human development and social
inclusion.
At the same time, we have "a sort of 'superdevelopment' of a wasteful and consumerist kind which forms an unacceptable contrast with the ongoing situations of dehumanizing deprivation", while we are all too slow in developing economic institutions and social initiatives which can give the poor regular access to basic resources.
We fail to see the deepest roots of our present failures, which have to do with the direction, goals, meaning and social implications of technological and economic growth.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
112: Recording
The salvation which God offers us is the work of his
mercy.
No human efforts, however good they may be, can enable us to merit so great a gift.
God, by his sheer grace, draws us to himself and makes us one with him.
He sends his Spirit into our hearts to make us his children, transforming us and enabling us to respond to his love by our lives.
The Church is sent by Jesus Christ as the sacrament of the salvation offered by God.
Through her evangelizing activity, she cooperates as an instrument of that divine grace which works unceasingly and inscrutably.
Benedict XVI put it nicely at the beginning of the Synod's reflections: "It is important always to know that the first word, the true initiative, the true activity comes from God and only by inserting ourselves into the divine initiative, only begging for this divine initiative, shall we too be able to become - with him and in him - evangelizers".
This principle of the primacy of grace must be a
beacon which constantly illuminates our reflections on evangelization.
-------------------------------------
Daniel Daring - Year with Matthew - 27:
--------------------------
10
years ago today:
Visit to poor areas and centers by service group from Macau Salesian Secondary School
------------------------------------------
Last night after I got home from the overnight monthly
O.M.I. retreat ....and caught up on some email and other office jobs ...I went
for a walk ...passing a
nearby park reserved for dogs and their owners. So many tails wagging ....a
happy sight. Thank you God for giving us humans the gift of pets!
--------------------------------------
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 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, 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
2017:
Southern Africa, Dubai
--------------------
Gay marriage: an elephant in the room (by John W)
Video: What "gay marriage" did to Massachusetts
Frightening
YouTube reports:
LGBT radical impact
on educational institutions (No.
5); LGBT
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?"
--------------------------------------------
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.
Map and Flag Counter began Feb 11, 2012. Previous visits 4,932.
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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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