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 Aug 1
My faithful Toshiba laptop - almost 6 years old - having been much used in HK,
having travelled to Africa 3 times and been to Australia a few times - has
lately been slowing down (...join the club...). So I checked Google to see if
anything could be done to speed it up....and learned about a new (for me)
creature called a Solid-state
drive which is a fancy alternative to a hard drive (like a replacement
heart!) that makes an old computer run faster than a new one! So, yesterday I
went to my usual computer shop in Sham Shui Po and the "doctor" did a
heart transplant in less than an hour ....and my Toshiba is now not only faster
than it was when it was brand new ...but...faster than my PC! (For
HK friends, my highly-recommended "doctor" is at Wings Technology Co.
Ltd., Golden Computer Centre, Shop 42 - phone 2720 8738).
And see 
below!
And
speaking of computers:
Seminarians
in Tanzania helped by computer project from Australia
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
1 Kings 18:
In the 3rd year of drought,
the Lord sent Elijah to speak to Ahab. Elijah got Ahab to gather all the
people
and all the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Elijah challenged the prophets of
Baal
to produce fire to consume a sacrificed bull. Elijah mocked the false prophets
as they ranted and raved
and cut themselves, but produced no fire for their bull. Then Elijah got the people to
pour water on his bull
and he prayed to God to hear his prayer. A fire from heaven then consumed
the bull
and the people acknowledged the Lord as God. Elijah then told Ahab there would
soon be rain,
and the sky grew dark and produced torrents of rain.
Dear God, please help people not to follow false
gods
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
82-83: God says to corrupt officials:
"How long will you judge unjustly and mistreat the poor?
You should do justice for the weak and the orphan. You should defend the afflicted and the needy.
You should rescue the weak and the poor.
You should set them free from the hand of the wicked". O God, please protect your people from
corruption and injustice.
Save us also from attack by other nations.
Let everyone know that you are the Lord of all the earth.
Lord, please stop corrupt
officials from hurting people
Recording
1
Thessalonians 4.13-18: You asked us about the situation of people who
have died.
Do not mourn in an unhealthy way for them,
like people who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and
that it will be the same for everyone who dies in God's friendship: God
will give them life with Jesus. They will live in God's House for ever.
With thoughts such as these you should comfort one another in times of
mourning.
Jesus, please increase my faith in the life to
come
Recording
Matthew
6.25-34: Jesus said to the crowds that life is about more than food and clothing.
Pointing to some birds flying around, Jesus said:
Look at the birds. They don't sow or reap,
yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
And you are more precious than the birds. Pointing to flowers in the field Jesus said:
How beautiful are the flowers.
They are more beautiful than King Solomon's clothing. If God cares so much about the life of flowers
won't he care even more about human life? So, don't spend your day worrying about
what you are going to eat and drink and wear. Put God first in your life, God and a right
way of life,
then God will look after your physical needs. Don't waste your energy worrying about
tomorrow.
Live life one day at a time.
Heavenly Father, thank you for
caring for
the birds and flowers....and me!
Recording
Reflection on the above readings:
Telling
poor people not to worry so much about food - a revolutionary doctrine!
See pages 4, 5, 6 and 7 here
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text
Full Chinese text
135: Recording: Certainly, these issues require constant attention and a concern for their ethical implications.
A broad, responsible scientific and social debate needs to take place, one capable of considering all the available information and of calling things by their name.
It sometimes happens that complete information is not put on the table; a selection is made on the basis of particular interests, be they politico-economic or ideological.
This makes it difficult to reach a balanced and prudent judgement on different questions, one which takes into account all the pertinent variables.
Discussions are needed in which all those directly or indirectly affected (farmers, consumers, civil authorities, scientists, seed producers, people living near fumigated fields, and others) can make known their problems and concerns, and have access to adequate and reliable information in order to make decisions for the common good, present and future. This is a complex environmental issue; it calls for a comprehensive approach which would require, at the very least, greater efforts to finance various lines of independent, interdisciplinary research capable of shedding new light on the problem.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
134: Recording
Universities
are outstanding environments for articulating and developing this evangelizing
commitment in an interdisciplinary and integrated way.
Catholic
schools, which always strive to join their work of
education with the explicit proclamation of the Gospel, are a most valuable
resource for the evangelization of culture, even in
those countries and cities where hostile situations challenge us to greater
creativity in our search for suitable methods.
-------------------------------------
Interactive
Bible Quiz - Exodus
Based on the actual
words of the Bible.
How many times can you get 3/3 ?!
----------------------------------
While I was waiting for my faithful Toshiba notebook to
see the computer doctor yesterday, I went to a nearby McDonald's for a rest
from the hot weather ....and met two friendly Filipinas who have been working in
HK for around 30 years! One of them said "I was young when I came here and
now I am old" ...to which I replied "I also have been here 30
years....I was old when I came here and now I'm very old"!
--------------------------------------
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 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, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Mon July 31
This is
good! (6,794,778
views):
Science
Has Found Proof of the Existence of God!
Why rehab pays off
- crime costs the world billions
The bill in HK was HK$67 billion last year
(food for thought: Rehab is good, but better still is
prevention. My anti-drug campaign can claim to have stopped at least 100 drug
mules from coming to HK. One drug mule in prison costs around HK$300,000 per
year. Most drug mules are in prison for around 10 years. So ...the campaign is
saving the HK govt 100 x $300,000 x 10 = $300,000,000! But the HK govt, with
reserves of HK$1.8 trillion (!) is so far not interested in supporting the campaign
...e.g. refund of airfares for my 3 trips to Africa....in order to pay for trip
to South America in January 2018 please God)
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
1 Kings
17: When Ahab was king of Israel, in
the 9th century B.C.,
Elijah was a prophet of the Lord. Elijah told Ahab there would be
no rain for a long time
because the people were following the cult of Baal. Elijah did miracles in the name
of the Lord:
he blessed a poor widow's food to make it increase,
and he brought back to life a young boy who had died.
Dear God, please bless our prayers as you blessed the prayers of Elijah
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
81: Ring out your joy to God our strength,
shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.
Listen to the voice of the Lord: "I am the Lord your God
who brought you out from the land of Egypt. Let there be no foreign god among you,
no worship of a false god. O that my people would heed me,
that Israel would walk in my ways. At once I would subdue their foes.
But Israel I would feed with finest wheat and honey".
Lord, please help us to walk in
your ways
Recording
1
Thessalonians 4.1-11: We urge you and appeal to you in the Lord
Jesus to make more and more progress in the kind of life you are meant to
live. God wants you to be holy. He wants you to keep
away from fornication. Live life peacefully. Get a decent job and
earn your living.
Jesus, make me be a better person, a
better Christian
Recording
Matthew
6.16-24: Jesus said to the crowds: When you do a bit of fasting,
don't run round telling the world what you are doing.
Secret fasting is spiritually powerful. Your most important account is
with the Bank of Heaven.
Build up your deposit with lots of good deeds and prayers. Physical blindness is a great tragedy.
Greater still is spiritual blindness. God must be number one in your life.
Don't let money or anything else replace God.
Jesus, please be Number One in
my life
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
So ....how much do I have in the bank? ...in the Bank of Heaven? Currency? Not US$, not GBP, not HK$, not Chinese Y....but GD (good deeds)
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
134: Recording
Although no conclusive proof
exists that GM cereals may be harmful to human beings, and in some regions their
use has brought about economic growth which has helped to resolve problems,
there remain a number of significant difficulties which should not be
underestimated.
In many places, following the introduction of these crops, productive land is concentrated in the hands of a few owners due to "the progressive disappearance of small producers, who, as a consequence of the loss of the exploited lands, are obliged to withdraw from direct production".
The most vulnerable of these become temporary labourers, and many rural workers end up moving to poverty-stricken urban areas.
The expansion of these crops has the effect of destroying the complex network of ecosystems, diminishing the diversity of production and affecting regional economies, now and in the future.
In various countries, we see an expansion of oligopolies for the production of cereals and other products needed for their cultivation.
This dependency would be aggravated were the production of infertile seeds to be considered; the effect would be to force farmers to purchase them from larger producers.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
133: Recording
It is
not enough that evangelizers be concerned to reach
each person, or that the Gospel be proclaimed to cultures as a whole. A
theology - and not simply a pastoral theology - which is in dialogue with other
sciences and human experiences is most important for our discernment on how best
to bring the Gospel message to different cultural contexts and groups
The Church, in her commitment to evangelization, appreciates and encourages the charism of theologians and their scholarly efforts to advance dialogue with the world of cultures and sciences. I call on theologians to carry out this service as part of the Church's saving mission.
In doing
so, however, they must always remember that the Church and
theology exist to evangelize, and not be content with a desk-bound theology.
-------------------------------------
Temperatures hit 37 degrees in HK yesterday....which is why I
changed my shirt 5 times during the day ...using three shirts on a rotation
basis! When will someone invent a "cool shirt" which somehow or other
"self cools" and doesn't get wet with perspiration?!
--------------------------------------
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 31st of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Tianjin
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 31st
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Nepal
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sun July 30
In all my 32 years in Hong Kong, yesterday
was the toughest for going outside. Imagine the humidity of February in Brisbane
combined with the heat of Adelaide or Melbourne in February ....intensified by
anti-breeze high rise buildings everywhere...and you get an idea of what
yesterday was like. I journeyed out three times: for 7.15am Mass at St Paul's,
for lunch and some shopping around 1pm, and then for 7.30pm Mass at St Paul's.
Spare a thought for construction workers and others working outside on days like
yesterday.
What
"gay marriage" did to Massachusetts
同志婚姻自2004年立法後，美國麻省的改變
（ 廣東話附字幕版
(these
links repeated...for benefit of people at my Masses last night and this morning
to whom I recommended the linked program)
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 17
1 Kings 3: The Lord appeared to King Solomon in a dream
and said "Ask me for anything you'd like." Solomon asked for wisdom: "Give your
servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil." God replied: "I now give you a heart full
of wisdom,
wisdom greater than anyone else has ever had. And I also give you what you did not ask for:
riches and glory and long life."
Dear Lord, please give me more
wisdom for my life
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
119: They are happy who follow God's word,
those who seek God with all their hearts. How can young people avoid evil?
By seeking you and obeying you, Lord. Open my eyes, Lord, that I may understand the beauty of your word.
Lord, when I'm worried or in trouble,
your word revives me and gives me strength. Lord, keep my eyes from what is false.
Bend my heart to your word and not to love of gain. The word from your mouth means more to me
than silver and gold. The unfolding of your word gives light
and teaches simple people.
Lord, thank you for your word
which gives peace to our hearts
Recording
Romans
8.26-29: When we are not sure of what to say in prayer,
we ask the Spirit to pray in us. We know that by turning everything to their
good, God blesses everyone who loves him. God the Father wants us to become living
images of his Son, so that his Son will be the eldest of many brothers and
sisters.
Jesus, brother Jesus, please help me to be
more like you
Recording
Matthew
13: Jesus said to the people:
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed.
It's the smallest of all seeds.
But it becomes a big bush, then a big tree that the birds live in. The kingdom of heaven is like yeast which
leavens flour. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure
in a field.
Someone finds it, then sells all they have to buy the field. The kingdom of heaven is like a fishing net
that catches all sorts of fish. Good fish are put in a basket. Useless
fish are thrown away.
So at the end of time, bad people will be thrown into hell.
Jesus, may your kingdom come,
your will be done
Recording
Reflection on the above readings:
Our
world urgently needs more wisdom ....we need to stop the trend of "the
dumbing down of society". (Google "the dumbing down of society")
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian with English, Chinese and
Spanish subtitles
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
133: Recording
It is difficult to make a general judgement about
genetic modification (GM), whether vegetable or animal, medical or agricultural,
since these vary greatly among themselves and call for specific considerations.
The risks involved are not always due to the techniques used, but rather to their improper or excessive application.
Genetic mutations, in fact, have often been, and continue to be, caused by nature itself.
Nor are mutations caused by human intervention a modern phenomenon.
The domestication of animals, the crossbreeding of species and other older and universally accepted practices can be mentioned as examples.
We need but recall that scientific developments in GM cereals began with the observation of natural bacteria which spontaneously modified plant genomes. In nature, however, this process is slow and cannot be compared to the fast pace induced by contemporary technological advances, even when the latter build upon several centuries of scientific progress.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
132: Recording
Proclaiming
the Gospel message to different cultures also involves proclaiming it to
professional, scientific and academic circles.
This means an encounter between faith, reason and the sciences with a view to developing new approaches and arguments on the issue of credibility, a creative apologetics which would encourage greater openness to the Gospel on the part of all.
When certain categories of reason and the sciences are taken up into the proclamation of the message, these categories then become tools of evangelization; water is changed into wine.
Whatever
is taken up is not just redeemed, but becomes an instrument of the Spirit for
enlightening and renewing the world
-------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
Last
weekend HK had one typhoon. Today
there are two typhoons in the neighbourhood (click: "Cyclone
track"). They're now coming in pairs! What if two arrive together and
each one merits typhoon signal no. 8 ...does that mean we could have a typhoon
signal no. 16?!
--------------------------------------
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
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, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sat July 29
My one-day trip to Guangzhou yesterday was an attempt to obtain
information to help a Mainland woman now in prison in HK awaiting trial. No
success, but hopefully my efforts will make it possible for the woman's legal
team to obtain the information.
Can
HK break its prison shackles to cut crime?
Still Think Redefining Marriage
Won't Affect You?
Terms
like "Husband" and "Wife", "Mother" and "Father"
are already deemed offensive, now only used by "bigots", according to
many who subscribe to the radical rainbow agenda
What
"gay marriage" did to Massachusetts
同志婚姻自2004年立法後，美國麻省的改變
（ 廣東話附字幕版
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
1 Kings
12-16:
After Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became
king.
The people asked Rehoboam not to be harsh like Solomon.
Solomon had imposed heavy taxes, enforced labor etc. Rehoboam asked the elders for
advice.
They said "Treat the people kindly and they will serve you." Rehoboam asked his peers for
advice.
They said "Treat the people more harshly than your father." Rehoboam accepted the advice of
his peers.
Therefore the people of Israel rejected him as king.
Only the people of Judah accepted him. The people of Israel made
Jeroboam king.
He had previously led an unsuccessful revolt against Solomon. Rehoboam and Jeroboam died and
were succeeded by various kings who ruled over Judah and Israel.
Dear God, please help leaders be kind to their
people
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
79-80: O God, the nations have invaded your sacred
land,
they have profaned your holy temple.
They have made Jerusalem a heap of ruins. We have become the taunt of our
neighbours,
the mockery and scorn of those who surround us. How long, O Lord, will all this last?
How long will this sorrow keep going? Do not hold the guilt of our ancestors against
us.
If their guilt is somehow influencing our situation now
please give peace and healing to everyone and everything
in our history. Let the groans of the prisoners come before
you.
Let your strong arm reprieve those condemned to die. O Lord, our God, help us and save us.
Let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
Lord, please heal any problems
in my family tree
Recording
Luke
10.38-42 (for Feast of St Martha):
Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into
her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord's feet and
listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving
said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving
all by myself? Please tell her to help me." But the Lord answered: "Martha,
Martha," he said "you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are
needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to
be taken from her."
Recording
John
11.1-44 (for Feast of St Martha): Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha lived
in the village of Bethany. When Lazarus became very sick, the sisters sent
a message to Jesus "Lord, your dear friend is very sick". By the time Jesus and his disciples
arrived in Bethany,
Lazarus was dead and buried for 4 days. Martha said to Jesus "If you had been
here, my brother would not have died". Jesus replied "I am the resurrection and
the life. If anyone believes in me, he will have life after death". Jesus said to Mary and Martha "Where have
you put him?" Jesus cried as he went to the tomb. The tomb was a
cave with a stone at the entrance. Jesus said "Take the stone away".
Then he called out in a loud voice "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, wrapped in burial
clothes. Jesus said "Unwrap him and let him go free".
Jesus, you are the Resurrection and the Life.
Please give eternal life to my friend (....name...) who died recently
Reflection on the above readings:
So many of us, like Martha, worry and fret about so many non-essentials. If friendship with Jesus can be stronger in our lives, then non-essential worries and frets will decrease.
----------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
132: Recording This,
then, is the correct framework for any reflection concerning human intervention
on plants and animals, which at present includes genetic manipulation by
biotechnology for the sake of exploiting the potential present in material
reality.
The respect owed by faith to reason calls for close attention to what the biological sciences, through research uninfluenced by economic interests, can teach us about biological structures, their possibilities and their mutations.
Any legitimate intervention will act on nature only in order "to favour its development in its own line, that of creation, as intended by God"
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
131: Recording
Differences
between persons and communities can sometimes prove uncomfortable, but the
Holy Spirit, who is the source of that diversity, can bring forth something good
from all things and turn it into an attractive means of evangelization.
Diversity must always be reconciled by the help of the Holy Spirit; he alone can raise up diversity, plurality and multiplicity while at the same time bringing about unity.
When
we, for our part, aspire to diversity, we become self-enclosed, exclusive and
divisive; similarly, whenever we attempt to create unity on the basis of our
human calculations, we end up imposing a monolithic uniformity. This is
not helpful for the Church's mission.
-------------------------------------
China immigration arrival card ...check the terminology
for non-locals:
--------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Frid July 28
Last night I attended the funeral service of one of the first
members of our "Thursday night meal for homeless people" ...
appropriately on a Thursday night. A most interesting service ...attended by
more than a dozen homeless/poor people. Man now has best of all homes ...in
Heaven. He's the one with small moustache, in blue shirt, standing in
this photo. He was legally blind. He died of a heart attack. Thank
you A-Fai for your prayers in Heaven.
/2017-03-09-Thurs-large.png){kind=link}
Today I'm due to make a one-day visit to Guangzhou in Mainland
China, to collect information that will help a Mainland inmate whose trial is
due to start in HK soon. My Mainland mobile number: +86 13824821861 (remembering
St Eugene de Mazenod who died in 1861). A totally inaccurate description of my
job: "boring".
"Jesus"
Christmas cards banned in Qld govt schools?
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
1 Kings 11:
Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines.
Many of these women were foreigners. As Solomon grew old, his foreign
women
swayed his heart to allow the worship of foreign idols. This displeased the Lord
and led to the breakup of Solomon's kingdom. Solomon was king for 40 years and
then died.
Dear God, please protect leaders from corruption
Psalm
78: Listen, everyone, to my teaching.
I will recount the lessons of our history. The things our parents have told us,
we will not hide from our children,
but will pass them on to the next generation.
We want the next generation to know all that the Lord has done for us in the past.
May the next generation in turn
pass on this knowledge to their own children,
so that they too will put their hope in God
and never forget all that God has done for us. May future generations not be like our
ancestors
who so often were unfaithful to God. Even though our ancestors had seen God part
the sea,
even though they had seen him provide food and water for them
in the desert, still they went on sinning. Yet he who is full of compassion forgave and
spared them.
He remembered they were only weak humans. Eventually he brought them to the promised
land
and gave a home to each of Israel's tribes. But still they sinned by building mountain
shrines
and serving idols. Then God raised up David to be their
leader. God called him from looking after sheep to be the shepherd of his people.
Lord, help us not to forget all
you have done for us
Recording: 01
02
1
Thessalonians 3.11-13:
May God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ
make it easy for us to visit you again. May the Lord be generous in increasing your
love, and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we
love you. May the Lord so confirm your hearts in
holiness, that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father
when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.
Jesus, please increase my love for the whole
human race
Recording
Matthew
6.1-15: Jesus said to the crowds: When you do a good deed,
do it for its own sake, not just to get people to praise you. When you pray, love to pray in private in your
heart.
Don't be looking for people to notice and praise you. When you pray, there's no need to rave on and
on.
God is not deaf. Prayer is not a lawyer arguing a case.
Prayer is a child speaking with simple trust like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may everyone love and honor you. Your kingdom come.
Your will be done on earth as in heaven. Thank you for enough food for today.
Forgive us as we forgive others. Save us in time of trial.
Protect us from evil
Jesus, help me remember
that each time I pray "The Our Father",
you are praying with me. "Your Father = my Father = our
Father"
Recording
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
Just as an unfit/overweight person has urgent need of physical exercise, so all of us need spiritual exercise: Bible reading, prayer. Best not to wait till obesity sets in before starting physical exercise. Best not to wait till calamity strikes before starting spiritual exercise. In fact, just as physical exercise prevents physical obesity, so spiritual exercise prevents spiritual malnutrition.
----------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
132: Recording
This, then, is the correct framework for any
reflection concerning human intervention on plants and animals, which at present
includes genetic manipulation by biotechnology for the sake of exploiting the
potential present in material reality.
The respect owed by faith to reason calls for close attention to what the biological sciences, through research uninfluenced by economic interests, can teach us about biological structures, their possibilities and their mutations.
Any legitimate intervention will act on nature only in order "to favour its development in its own line, that of creation, as intended by God"
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
130b: Recording
A sure sign of the authenticity of a
charism is its ecclesial character, its ability to be
integrated harmoniously into the life of God's holy and faithful people for the
good of all.
Something truly new brought about by the Spirit need not overshadow other gifts and spiritualities in making itself felt.
To the extent that a charism is better directed to the heart of the Gospel, its exercise will be more ecclesial
------------------------------
July: month of the Precious Blood of Jesus
An amazing story: The
singing of a London tramp, made into a moving recording:
Jesus'
Blood Never Failed Me Yet (need to turn volume
up ...and wait for sound to begin at about 28 seconds...then music at 4 mins).
Words: Jesus' blood never failed me yet, Never
failed me yet, Jesus' blood never failed me yet, There's one thing I know, For
he loves me so
-------------------------------------
Yesterday morning I had a smile in my heart as I left
Printshop in Jordan ....after I paid bill (thanks to kind local HK friends) to
confirm re-printing of the Simple Bible: Old Testament (English edition). Should
be ready for collection next Thursday DV. Intended mainly for prison inmates.
DG!
--------------------------------------
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 July 27
I spent most of yesterday at Tai Lam Women's
prison....where for the second time this year at Tai Lam I had the pleasure of
an encouraging chat with CSD Commissioner Mr Au Chi Chiu. He again warmly
expressed his thanks for the work of my anti-drug campaign. With a touch of
nostalgia....Mr Au due to retire soon...this was a farewell visit. And see
below for another memorable encounter at Tai Lam yesterday.
Facebook may be censored on Express Rail Link trains as they pass through
HK (...Facebook,
Google, Gmail etc can't be accessed legally in China...)
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
1
Kings 10:
Solomon's wealth continued to
grow.
He acquired a fleet of ships for trading.
He also had a huge force of chariots and horses. The queen of Sheba heard about
Solomon's wisdom
and came to visit him. Solomon answered all her
questions.
None of her questions was too difficult for him.
Dear Lord, please give wisdom
to all world leaders
Psalms
73-77:
Sometimes when I see how bad people prosper,
I wonder what's the use in trying to be good? But then I realize that
everyone someday has to pay the bill
for any evil they have bought in the world. Sometimes when I see
our world and religion in ruins,
I wonder why has God abandoned us? Then I remember that
God has promised to break the power
of the wicked. He has promised to give strength to good people. So may all people honor
the Lord our God and judge.
May the Lord give us his loving help.
Lord,
you are goodness itself. Please help us to be good
and to trust you always
Recording
1
Thessalonians 2.13-16:
As soon as you heard the Good News, you
accepted it as God's message and not just some human thinking. This message is still a living power among you.
For the sake of the Good News, you have been
badly treated by your own countrymen, just as Christians in Judea have
been badly treated by the Jews. The Jews have been persecuting us and
hindering us from spreading the Good News.
Jesus, please help people who are being
hindered from spreading the message of your love
Matthew
5. 13-48: Jesus said to the crowds:
You are the salt of the
earth.
But if salt loses its taste, it's no use for anything. You are the light of
the world.
Let the world see your light, your good deeds.
When people see you doing good deeds,
people will praise God. I have not come to
abolish the Jewish religion.
I have come to raise it to a higher level of goodness. Your goodness must not
just be something superficial.
Your goodness must be something from the heart. You must avoid anger
and insult, just like you avoid murder.
If you have offended someone, say "Sorry". You must avoid lustful
looks and thoughts.
Looking at someone lustfully is immorality of the heart. Love and pray for
people who are unkind to you.
This is the way to practise the highest level of goodness.
Jesus, please help me
practise a higher level of goodness
Recording
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
Jesus' words in today's Gospel were spoken "to the crowds" ... not just to the disciples/apostles. Every human being is meant to be a person who does good deeds, who avoids anger etc.
-------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
131: Recording Here
I would recall the balanced position of Saint John Paul II, who stressed the
benefits of scientific and technological progress as evidence of "the
nobility of the human vocation to participate responsibly in God's creative
action", while also noting that "we cannot interfere in one area of
the ecosystem without paying due attention to the consequences of such
interference in other areas".
He made it clear that the Church values the benefits which result "from the study and applications of molecular biology, supplemented by other disciplines such as genetics, and its technological application in agriculture and industry".
But he also pointed out that this should not lead to "indiscriminate genetic manipulation" which ignores the negative effects of such interventions.
Human creativity cannot be suppressed.
If an artist cannot be stopped from using his or her creativity, neither should those who possess particular gifts for the advancement of science and technology be prevented from using their God-given talents for the service of others.
We need constantly to rethink the goals, effects, overall context and ethical limits of this human activity, which is a form of power involving considerable risks.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
130a: Recording
The Holy Spirit also enriches the entire
evangelizing Church with different charisms.
These gifts are meant to renew and build up the Church.
They
are not an inheritance, safely secured and entrusted to a small group for
safekeeping; rather they are gifts of the Spirit
integrated into the body of the Church, drawn to the centre which is Christ and
then channelled into an evangelizing impulse.
-------------------------------------
In one dayroom of Tai Lam Women's Centre yesterday, one
member of a group of inmates (whose first language is not English) offered me
"a big kiss". I jokingly said "yes please" (not that I
would have gone ahead with the deal..) ...only to find out that what she said
was "would you like a biscuit?". Crumbs....
--------------------------------------
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 July 26
/2017-07-24-Jamii.jpg)
My post two days ago here
on Jamii Forums has had more than 900 views! ...and some
interesting(?) comments!)
Today is the Feast of Saint Anne,
the grandmother of Jesus. Many sick people have been healed at this famous
church in her honour in Canada: St
Anne de Beaupre. Which
explains all the crutches here:
--------------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
Talking
of vocation ...
I would like to explore that word 'vocation' a bit further, to ask a few
questions as to its nature and the permanence of a particular acceptance
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
1 Kings 8-9:
When the temple was finished,
Solomon shifted the Sacred Chest to the temple.
After the Chest was placed in the temple,
the glorious cloud of the Lord filled the temple. Solomon then praised God and
blessed the people.
Solomon prayed that the temple would be a place of blessings. Solomon also prayed that all the
peoples of the world
would come to know the Lord from whom all life comes. The Lord again appeared to Solomon and said:
"I will be near to all who enter the temple you have built."
Dear God, may all temples and
churches in the world
be places where people praise and love you
Psalm
72: O Lord, please bless the king,
that he might serve your people with justice. May the mountains bring forth peace for the
people
and the hills, justice. The kings of Sheba and Seba bring him gifts.
All nations will serve him. He will save the poor when they cry for help
and the needy who are helpless. He will have pity on the weak
and save the lives of the poor. May every tribe be blessed in him.
May every nation bless his name.
May all the nations know and
love you, Lord
1
Thessalonians 1.7 - 2.12: You are a great example to other believers,
since it was from you that the word of the Lord spread to many places. Everyone knows how we planted the Good News in
your hearts, and
how you broke with idolatry and became servants of the living God. Let me remind you how we loved and served you,
like loving parents caring for their dear children.
Jesus, thank you for the people who nurtured
me as a Christian
Recording
Matthew 5.1-12:
Jesus said to the crowds: Blessed are poor and simple of heart
people.
They belong to the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are people who are going through great
sorrow.
Their hearts will be filled with peace. Blessed are people who lead just and honest
lives.
They will see the victory of goodness. Blessed are people who show mercy to others.
God will be merciful to them. Blessed are people who have a clean heart.
They will see God. Blessed are people who are peacemakers.
They are God's children.
Blessed are people who are persecuted for the cause of right.
They will receive a great reward in heaven.
Jesus, please help me be
merciful and kind and just
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
Solomon
was famous for his wisdom, but how much greater is the wisdom of Jesus in
"The Beatitudes". In a world which bombards us with messages to speed
and spend, how good it is to hear Jesus' words reminding us about eternal
values.
-------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
130: Recording In
the philosophical and theological vision of the human being and of creation
which I have presented, it is clear that the human person, endowed with reason
and knowledge, is not an external factor to be excluded.
While human intervention on plants and animals is permissible when it pertains to the necessities of human life, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that experimentation on animals is morally acceptable only "if it remains within reasonable limits [and] contributes to caring for or saving human lives".
The Catechism firmly states that human power has limits and that "it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly".
All such use and experimentation "requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation"
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
129b: Recording
In countries where
Christianity is a minority, then, along with encouraging each of the baptized to
proclaim the Gospel, particular Churches should actively promote at least
preliminary forms of inculturation.
The ultimate aim should be that the Gospel, as preached in categories proper to each culture, will create a new synthesis with that particular culture.
This is always a slow process and at times we can be overly fearful.
But if we allow doubts and fears to dampen our courage, instead of being creative we will remain comfortable and make no progress whatsoever.
In this case we will not take an active part
in historical processes, but become mere onlookers as the Church gradually
stagnates.
-------------------------------------
Yesterday at the High Court I attended 3 trials - all drug
trafficking cases - 2 South African men and one woman from Mainland China. First
two cases, like most cases I attend, were in English. Third one was in Cantonese
...mentioned how woman was tricked by a Nigerian Drug Lord named "C.J."
....which immediately rang a bell for me. He was/is a well known figure in the
Tsim Sha Tsui area of HK ....and ....on my flight from Dubai to HK on January
29, 2015 (after my first visit to Africa), he was sitting next to me! I informed
the captain of this but no action was taken by HK Customs (...he's an
informer...). This is not a laughing matter if you spend 12 years in prison
after being tricked by someone...
--------------------------------------
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
2017:
Southern Africa, Dubai
--------------------
Gay marriage: an elephant in the room (by John W)
Video:
What "gay
marriage" did to Massachusetts
同志婚姻自2004年立法後，美國麻省的改變
（ 廣東話附字幕版）
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
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the King.
The official launching
was
held on the Gold Coast, Australia, on January 20,
2012.
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Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡
頌 恆 神 父
jdwomi@gmail.com
HK
mobile +852- 67095674
China
mobile +86-13828421861 - (only
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