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 Sep 5
On the first Saturday of each month I usually say Mass at Queen Elizabeth
Hospital for staff, volunteers and families of recently deceased patients. Last
Saturday there were four families remembering their deceased - three
grandmothers and one great grandmother....aged 80, 83, 94 and 94. The Mass was
anything but sad ....there was even a most joyful sign of peace time...which had
me thinking "where am I?" ...such is the effect of our faith...we can
experience joy even in times of sadness!
Yesterday I spent most of the day at the desk....trying to finish many office jobs before my trip to Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. Mid-morning I went to McDonald's for green tea ....and was joined by a well-known no-longer-young street lady who has been in prison several times and these days is struggling to make ends meet ...so I paid for her breakfast/lunch and heard much of her story....hoping that someday she can find better employment with a decent place to stay (..at present her workplace is her home).
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Tobit 8:
Before Tobias went to bed with Sarah,
he remembered what Raphael had said. Tobias put some of the fish's heart and liver
on burning incense. The smell of the fish made Asmodeus flee.
Tobias with Sarah then prayed to the Lord:
"You are blessed O God of our fathers.
Let the heavens and all creatures bless you,
you who created Adam and Eve. I now take Sarah as my wife
not for any lustful reason, but out of true love. Please have pity on us
and bring us to old age together." Then they went to bed. Meanwhile
Raguel, who feared Tobias would die,
prepared a secret grave. But when Raguel sent a maid to the room of
Tobias and Sarah
the maid found they were alive and sleeping peacefully. Then Raguel too praised God:
"Thank you, my God, for making me happy.
What I feared has not happened." The next day Raguel prepared the customary 14
day wedding feast.
Dear God, thank you for the many times when we
could say
"What I feared has not happened"
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
113: Praise, O friends of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord. May the name of the Lord be blessed
both now and for evermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting
praised be the name of the Lord. Who is like the Lord our God,
above the heavens his glory. From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
to put them in the company of royalty. To the childless wife he gives a home
and gladdens her heart with children.
May the Lord be praised from
sunrise to sunset
Listen
Titus
2.1-10: It's your job to preach the behavior that
goes with sound doctrine: the older men should be reserved, dignified,
moderate, sound in faith and love. The older women should be teachers of good
behavior, avoiding scandalmongering and too much wine. They should be an
example to the younger women in their love for their husbands and children.
Younger men should be moderate, with yourself
setting an example of sincerity for them. Slaves should be obedient to their masters,
and avoid petty thieving.
Jesus, help me be a good person, a good
Christian
Listen
Matthew
15.29-31: Jesus went up into the hills near the Lake of
Galilee.
Large crowds came to him bringing
the lame, the crippled, the blind, the dumb and many others. These they put down at Jesus' feet.
Jesus healed them all. The crowds praised the God of Israel
when they saw the dumb speaking, cripples whole again,
the lame walking and the blind able to see.
Jesus,
please give sick people more faith in your healing love
Listen
Reflection on the above readings:
If you Google "Titus 2 women" you'll find there are many Christian groups based on Paul's words to Titus about "women ministering to women"
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text
Full Chinese text
166: Listen Worldwide, the ecological movement has made significant advances, thanks also to the efforts of many organizations of civil society.
It is impossible here to mention them all, or to review the history of their contributions.
But thanks to their efforts, environmental questions have increasingly found a place on public agendas and encouraged more far-sighted approaches.
This notwithstanding, recent World Summits on the environment have not lived up to expectations because, due to lack of political will, they were unable to reach truly meaningful and effective global agreements on the environment.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
160: Listen
The
Lord's missionary mandate includes a call to growth in faith: "Teach them
to observe all that I have commanded you".
Hence
it is clear that that the first proclamation also calls
for ongoing formation and maturation.
Evangelization aims at a process of growth which entails taking seriously each
person and God's plan for his or her life.
All of us need to grow in Christ.
Evangelization
should stimulate a desire for this growth, so that each of us can say
wholeheartedly: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in
me"
-------------------------------------
Interactive
Bible Quiz - Judges
Based on the actual
words of the Bible.
How many times can you get 3/3 ?!
----------------------------------
(48
secs): Hummingbird
pool party
--------------------------------------
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 5th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Guizhou
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 5th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Chad
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Mon Sep 4
Why does Coca-Cola
use red and white? See ,
below! 
!
New
Zealand beekeeper declared not guilty of drug trafficking
"Gay-marriage"
ballot:
Father's Day ad Ban Proves Marriage and Parenting are
Linked
- what a
beautiful video!
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Tobit
7: When Tobias and Raphael reached Media,
they went to the home of their relative Raguel, father of Sarah. Tobias asked Raguel for Sarah to be his wife.
Raguel told Tobias that 7 previous bridegrooms had died. Tobias repeated his request, and Sarah became
his wife.
That night everyone prayed for the safety of the couple.
Dear God, please bless everyone
being married this month
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
112: Happy are people who love and honor the Lord,
who take delight in his commands.
The children of such people will be blessed. Such people are a light in the darkness for
others.
Such people are generous, merciful and just. They take pity and help those in need.
They conduct their affairs with integrity. Open-handed they give to the poor.
Their justice and goodness will never be forgotten.
Lord, please help me do more
for the poor
Listen
Titus
1.1-9:
From Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to
Titus, true child of mine in the faith we share, wishing you grace and
peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Saviour. The reason I left you behind in Crete was for
you to appoint elders in every town: each of them a man of irreproachable
character, married only once, not arrogant
or hot-tempered, not a heavy drinker, not out to make money. A man who is hospitable and a friend of all
that is good; sensible, devout, with a firm grasp of the Good News, a good
teacher, able to refute people who argue against sound doctrine.
Jesus, please help all pastors be good
"elders"
Listen
Matthew
15.1-20: Some religious leaders asked Jesus "Why
do your disciples ignore many external practices of our religion?" Jesus answered, with the words of the prophet
Isaiah:
"This people honors me with external lip-service,
while their hearts are far from me." Jesus also said
"It's not certain foods or lack of washing that makes a person
unclean.
It's evil in the heart that makes a person unclean. Evil intentions like murder, adultery,
fornication, theft, perjury, slander. These are the things that make a
person unclean."
Jesus, please clean my
heart
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings:
How
to solve the "vocation crisis" (the shortage of priests): put into
practice words of Paul to Titus, above
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
165: Listen
We know that technology based on the use of highly
polluting fossil fuels - especially coal, but also oil and, to a lesser degree,
gas - needs to be progressively replaced without delay.
Until greater progress is made in developing widely accessible sources of renewable energy, it is legitimate to choose the less harmful alternative or to find short-term solutions.
But the international community has still not reached adequate agreements about the responsibility for paying the costs of this energy transition.
In recent decades, environmental issues have given rise to considerable public debate and have elicited a variety of committed and generous civic responses.
Politics and business have been slow to react in a way commensurate with the urgency of the challenges facing our world.
Although the post-industrial period may well be remembered as one of the most irresponsible in history, nonetheless there is reason to hope that humanity at the dawn of the twenty-first century will be remembered for having generously shouldered its grave responsibilities.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
159: Listen
Another feature of a good homily is that it
is positive. It is not so much concerned with pointing out
what shouldn't be done, but with suggesting what we can do better.
In any case, if it does draw attention to something negative, it will also attempt to point to a positive and attractive value, lest it remain mired in complaints, laments, criticisms and reproaches.
Positive preaching always offers hope, points to the future, does not leave us trapped in negativity.
How good it is when priests, deacons and
the laity gather periodically to discover resources which can make preaching
more attractive!
-------------------------------------
I'm
currently reading The Candy Machine: How Cocaine took
over the world by Tom Feiling. P.18 explains why Coca Cola uses red
and white!
/Candy-Machine-018.jpg)
c.f. Wikipedia
--------------------------------------
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 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, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sun Sep 3
MercyHK, of which I am
a core member, is now being called on almost every day to provide accommodation
for a new homeless person. Like a female Indonesian inmate acquitted last
Monday. Like a European man who won his case last week after being out of
detention on bail and needing our help for almost two months...he has now
returned to Europe (...man, by the way, is gay...from our point of view
absolutely no discrimination...in fact...extra compassion). Like a local Chinese
mother with six year old daughter rendered homeless last night. God bless the
kind benefactors who support MercyHK!
-------------------------------------------------------
I read every word of this sentimental but beautiful article:
Princess
Diana's mercy restored the royals
Link between hurricane Harvey
and climate change:
Don't look now (George
Monbiot)
------
Two articles by Peter J. Wilkinson
- first published in The Swag:
Particular Councils: a resource rarely used in Australia
Preparing the 2020 Australian Plenary Council
-------
"Gay-marriage"
ballot:
TV
commercial celebrating Father's Day too "political"
The Same-Sex MARRIAGE issue - is it good for kids?
23 year old Aussie girl speaks out
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 22
Jeremiah 18-20: Some officials decided to get rid of
Jeremiah.
They did not want to listen to his message any more.
"Come on,", they said, "let us make a case against
him." Jeremiah prayed to God:
"Lord, you know that people are plotting against me.
Please help me and keep me safe." One of the Temple priests had Jeremiah beaten
and put in stocks for a day near the Temple. Again Jeremiah prayed to God:
"You have seduced me, Lord.
You have told me to proclaim a harsh message for the people. This has made me a laughing-stock.
Being your messenger has caused me insult all the day long. At one stage I even thought of not speaking
your message any more.
But then I felt a fire burning in my heart. I could not stop thinking of you. I just had to speak your message."
Lord, please increase my
love for you. Please give me more courage to speak your message to my
family, friends and people I meet
Psalms
61-65: O God, hear my cry,
you who are my refuge and help. In you alone is my soul
at rest. My help comes from you. Take refuge in God,
everyone in trouble.
Trust him at all times. O God, you are my God,
for you I long.
My body and soul thirst for you
like a dry, weary land without water. Your love is better
than life,
my lips will speak your praise. On my bed I remember
you.
On you I muse through the night. You are the Creator of
the world.
You care for the earth, you give it water. To you our praise is
due,
wherever we are on earth.
Lord, my
soul clings to you. Your right hand holds me fast
Listen
Romans
12.1-2: I beg you, trust in God's mercy, and worship
him in a spiritual way, not just in an external way. Offer your whole life to him as a holy
sacrifice. Do not blindly follow the fashions of the
world. Instead, let your behavior change, fashioned by your enlightened
mind. This is the way to discover the will of God,
the way to know what God wants us to do.
Jesus,
help me give more time to things
that are important, less time to things not so important
Listen
Matthew
16.21-28: Jesus now began explaining to his disciples
how he must go to Jerusalem to suffer, die and rise from the dead. He also said "If you want to be my disciple, you must deny yourself,
take up your own cross, and follow me. Selfishness will ruin your life.
Self-sacrificing will bless your life. What use is it to have everything in this
world
yet miss out on Heaven?"
Jesus, please help me find my
life by losing it in service of others
Listen
Reflection on the above readings:
Never once did Jesus say to a sick person
"your illness is your cross ... go and carry it". Every time
someone asked for healing, Jesus healed them or those for whom they asked
healing. So what is our cross? Jeremiah gives the answer: it's ridicule,
persecution for being a Christian ....for upholding Christian values ... like
marriage (... just ask John the Baptist!)
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
164b: Listen
Yet the same ingenuity which has brought about
enormous technological progress has so far proved incapable of finding effective
ways of dealing with grave environmental and social problems worldwide.
A global consensus is essential for confronting the deeper problems, which cannot be resolved by unilateral actions on the part of individual countries.
Such a consensus could lead, for example, to planning a sustainable and diversified agriculture, developing renewable and less polluting forms of energy, encouraging a more efficient use of energy, promoting a better management of marine and forest resources, and ensuring universal access to drinking water.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
158b: Listen
The greatest risk for a preacher is that he becomes
so accustomed to his own language that he thinks that everyone else naturally
understands and uses it.
If we wish to adapt to people's language and to reach them with God's word, we need to share in their lives and pay loving attention to them.
Simplicity and clarity are two different things.
Our language may be simple but our preaching not very clear.
It can end up being incomprehensible because it is disorganized, lacks logical progression or tries to deal with too many things at one time.
We need to ensure, then, that the homily has thematic unity,
clear order and correlation between sentences, so that people can follow the
preacher easily and grasp his line of argument.
-------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
Twice
in the past couple of months, morning church services and other activities in HK
have been cancelled because of typhoon signal No. 8. People used to joke that
Sunday typhoons, coming from the Philippines, are Catholic. Today's morning
services also seemed to be in danger, but now can go ahead because today's
Sunday typhoon has decided to avoid HK. A "non-practising" Catholic?
--------------------------------------
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 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 3rd of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Burundi
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sat Sep 2
Apart from a trip to a legal firm's office on Hong Kong island to
sign an affidavit for a coming High Court case, I spent most of yesterday
"at the office" trying to catch up on mail, email, W/Ap messages
....and especially preparing support letters for inmates soon to be sentenced.
One such letter can take more than an hour by the time research is done about
the contribution of the inmate and his/her family to my anti-drug campaign. But
these days such a letter usually earns an inmate a discount of 6 months or so
from his/her sentence ....so I don't mind doing "time" in the office
to help the inmate spend less "time" in prison!
This is huge news:
Kenyan supreme court annuls Uhuru Kenyatta election victory
- orders fresh election to be held within 60 days. Jesus,
please let Kenya have a peaceful new election!
Pope reveals he had weekly psychoanalysis sessions at age 42
Update
in Chinese and English from Australian Chinese for Families - Dr
Pansy Lai - has link to this
video: 这个星期我们为大家翻译了400万澳洲网友疯转的视频：
辣妈发飙 --
学校竟然教孩子这些！你孩子的学校教了什么你知道吗？This
video of a desperate mum that went viral -- with 4
million views -- reveals what really goes on in the so-called
"Safe Schools" program. I found this video very disturbing, very
disturbing indeed. It seems the education system in many countries now has a
most serious cancer - stage 1? 2? 3? c.f.
Father's
Day cancelled
New website in Australia: Your teaching our children WHAT?
--------
Cocaine
in suitcase: New Zealand beekeeper in WA drug smuggling trial
- so similar to many cases in HK ...and in this case I
wonder if the authorities tried to arrange a "sting"?
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Tobit
5-6: Tobit told Tobias to find a trustworthy man
to go with him to Media. Tobias found Raphael, but Tobias did not
know Raphael was an angel. On the first night of their journey, Tobias
and Raphael caught a large fish. Raphael told Tobias to keep the gall, liver and heart of
the fish.
Raphael explained that the gall would cure the blindness of Tobit, and
that the liver and heart would drive away the demon Asmodeus.
Dear God, thank you for the
help we receive from your angels
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
111: I will thank the Lord with all my heart.
Great are the works of the Lord,
to be pondered by all who love him. His goodness stands firm for ever.
The Lord is compassion and love. His precepts are for all peoples and all
times.
He is to be honored by all nations. To love and honor the Lord
is the beginning of wisdom.
Dear Lord, please help me to
love and honor you every day
Listen
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
Listen
Matthew
14.34-36: When Jesus got out of the boat on the other
side of the lake,
people recognized him and news of his presence spread quickly. From all around that area, sick people were
brought to him.
The sick people just wanted to touch his clothing.
All those who touched his clothing were healed.
Jesus, please heal my sick
friends (..names..) by letting them,
through prayer, touch your clothing
Listen
Reflection on the above readings:
May the healing ministry of Christianity grow ever stronger as a witness to the love of Jesus
----------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
164a: Listen Beginning
in the middle of the last century and overcoming many difficulties, there has
been a growing conviction that our planet is a homeland and that humanity is one
people living in a common home.
An interdependent world not only makes us more conscious of the negative effects of certain lifestyles and models of production and consumption which affect us all; more importantly, it motivates us to ensure that solutions are proposed from a global perspective, and not simply to defend the interests of a few countries.
Interdependence obliges us to think of one world with a common plan
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
158a: Listen
Paul
VI said that "the faithful...expect much from
preaching, and will greatly benefit from it, provided that it is simple, clear,
direct, well-adapted".
Simplicity has to do with the language we use.
It must be one that people understand, lest we risk
speaking to a void.
Preachers often use words learned during their studies and in specialized settings which are not part of the ordinary language of their hearers.
These
are words that are suitable in theology or catechesis, but whose meaning is
incomprehensible to the majority of Christians
-------------------------------------
The new school year began in HK yesterday ..... and no
doubt many parents are glad that their children are back at school. Yesterday I
met some Filipino domestic workers who look after children ....they also are
happy that school is back! (Come Holy Spirit and bless
all schools, teachers, staff, students, parents!)
--------------------------------------
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 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, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Fri Sep 1
After
last night's usual Thursday night meal for homeless people - at a Temple Street
canteen - MercyHK core group Lucia, Tony and
I adjourned for a meeting as usual to a nearby McDonald's (where many of our
meal guests sleep each night). We were joined by a kind business man who is
interested in our work ....and by a shirtless ex-drug addict who was rummaging
at McDonald's looking for food. We bought him (the shirtless man, not the
business man) a meal and he sat with us. We later bought him a tee-shirt. He
says he is no longer on drugs, but used to be on Ice for some 20 years. No
wonder he has health issues ....won't/cant' work....tries to survive on a
government small subsidy. After our meeting I reflected again on the compassion
of McDonald's which allows homeless people to stay overnight ..several hundred
in HK ....unlike our
churches/schools/government centres ....where else can someone walk in from the
street and stay overnight? Some day if the Good Lord helps MercyHK
have a short term "walk in" shelter in the urban area (to feed into
our long-term centre on Cheung Chau Island) I seriously would like to call it
"McMercy"!
ONE OF THE
BEST SPEECHES EVER by Simon Sinek (one million
views)
"Gay-marriage"
ballot:
Europe
is finished. Nothing can save it now -
this disturbing video about the "neutering" of kindergarten children
is here (scroll down): Why
these Mums are right to be worried
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Tobit 4: Tobit said to his son Tobias:
"When I die give me an honorable burial.
Always honor your mother. When she dies, bury her at my side. Be faithful to the Lord all your days.
Always be willing to help poor people. Give your bread to those who are hungry
and your clothes to those who are naked. Ask advice of every wise person.
Bless the Lord God in everything. Beg him to guide your ways
and bring your paths and purposes to a successful conclusion. Avoid all loose conduct.
Do to no one what you would not want done to you. Choose a wife from our tribe, from our kin in
Media.
Go to Media, to my friend Gabael.
Many years ago I left 10 talents of silver with him.
This money is yours."
Dear God, please guide me
and help me to do what is right
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
109-110: O God whom I praise,
do not be silent,
for people are bombarding me with words of hate. They speak to me with
lying tongues
and attack me without cause. They repay me evil for
good.
While I pray for them, they show me hatred. I have become an object
of scorn.
Help me, Lord my God.
Lord,
when people are unkind to me, please give me the grace to pray for them
Listen
2
Timothy 4.1-5:
In the presence of God our Father and of
Christ Jesus, I give you this command: proclaim the Good News and, welcome
or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, call to
obedience - but do this with patience. Be prepared to face people who jettison sound
teaching in favor of the latest novelty. Instead of listing to the truth,
they will turn to myths. Make the spreading of the Good News your
life's work.
Jesus, please protect me from junk ideas and
misleading teachers
Listen
Matthew
14.22-33: After feeding the crowd with 5 loaves and 2
fish,
Jesus told his disciples to go by boat across the nearby lake.
Jesus stayed to send the crowds away.
Then he went up into the hills to pray. When darkness came, the boat was far from land,
but it was battling large waves caused by a strong head-wind. Jesus then walked on the water towards the
boat.
He called out to his disciples "Courage. It is I. Don't be
afraid." Peter answered "Lord, if it is you, tell
me to walk on the water to you." Jesus said "Come". Peter then started walking on the water,
but he became afraid and began to sink.
"Lord, save me" he called out.
Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to keep walking on the water.
"Man of little faith, why did you doubt?" asked Jesus.
As they got into the boat, the wind stopped. The men in the boat bowed to Jesus and said
"You really are the Son of God".
Jesus, please help me not to
lose faith in you
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
The Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Greatest Commandment, the New Commandment ....all are summed in today's first reading. Tobit is "spot on"!
--------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
163: Listen
So far I have attempted to take stock of our present
situation, pointing to the cracks in the planet that we inhabit as well as to
the profoundly human causes of environmental degradation.
Although the contemplation of this reality in itself has already shown the need for a change of direction and other courses of action, now we shall try to outline the major paths of dialogue which can help us escape the spiral of self-destruction which currently engulfs us.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
157: Listen
Simply using a few examples, let us recall some
practical resources which can enrich our preaching and make it more attractive.
One of the most important things is to learn how to use images in preaching, how to appeal to imagery. Sometimes examples are used to clarify a certain point, but these examples usually appeal only to the mind; images, on the other hand, help people better to appreciate and accept the message we wish to communicate.
An attractive image makes the message seem familiar, close to
home, practical and related to everyday life. A successful image can make people
savour the message, awaken a desire and move the will towards the Gospel. A
good homily, an old teacher once told me, should have "an idea, a
sentiment, an image."
-------------------------------------
Pope
witnesses surprise marriage proposal
--------------------------------------
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 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, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Thu Aug 31
Yesterday I spent several hours at Stanley Prison ....visiting
some Malaysian inmates before my trip to Kuala Lumpur next week ...and seeing a
number of other inmates concerning their cases soon to be heard at the High
Court or the Court of Appeal. And as usually happens when a chaplain visits a
prison, he/she gets home with several pages of jobs in his/her notebook. A three
hour prison visit can often mean 9 hours of office work. I remember hearing a
similar statistic for police officers....the major part of their time is taken
up with office work ....writing up reports etc.
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Tobit
2-3: One night when Tobit was resting,
sparrow droppings fell into his eyes and he became blind.
Some people made fun of Tobit for his misfortune.
Tobit humbly entrusted his life to the Lord. At the same time as Tobit was praying,
Sarah was praying in the town of Media. Sarah had been given in marriage 7 times
but all of her bridegrooms had been killed by the demon Asmodeus
before the couple could make love. The Lord heard the prayers of Tobit and Sarah
and sent the angel Raphael to help them.
Dear God, please help people
who are in difficult situations
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
108: My heart is ready, O God. I will sing, sing
your praise.
Awake, lyre and harp. I will awake the dawn. I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples,
praise you among the nations, for your love reaches to the heavens
and your truth to the skies. O Lord, come and deliver us today.
Help us with your right hand. Give us help in difficult situations.
With your help we shall be brave.
Lord, we need your help every
day
Listen
2
Timothy 3.12-16:
Anyone who tries to live a sincere Christian
life will be persecuted. Stay faithful to what you have been taught and
know to be true.
Remember who your teachers were, and how, ever since you were a child, you
have known the Scriptures. From the Scriptures you can learn the wisdom
that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and can be
used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people's lives and
teaching them to be holy.
Jesus, please give all Christians, especially
pastors, a passion for the Scriptures
Listen
Matthew
13.53-58: One day Jesus went to Nazareth, his home
town.
In the prayer hall there he taught the local people. But the local people would not accept
him. They said
"Where did he get such wisdom and miraculous power?
He is just a carpenter's son. His mother is that woman called Mary.
His brothers are James, Joseph, Simon and Jude.
His sisters are here, too. He's nobody special." Jesus said to them
"A prophet is despised only in his own country and his own house".
And he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Jesus, please give me more
faith in you
.... and don't let me reject people
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
Gospel can be summarised in Chinese saying: "local ginger is not hot"
-------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
162: Recording Our
difficulty in taking up this challenge seriously has much to do with an ethical
and cultural decline which has accompanied the deterioration of the
environment.
Men and women of our postmodern world run the risk of rampant individualism, and many problems of society are connected with today's self-centred culture of instant gratification.
We see this in the crisis of family and social ties and the difficulties of recognizing the other.
Parents can be prone to impulsive and wasteful consumption, which then affects their children who find it increasingly difficult to acquire a home of their own and build a family.
Furthermore, our inability to think seriously about future generations is linked to our inability to broaden the scope of our present interests and to give consideration to those who remain excluded from development.
Let us not only keep the poor of the future in mind, but also today's poor, whose life on this earth is brief and who cannot keep on waiting.
Hence, "in addition to a fairer sense of intergenerational solidarity there is also an urgent moral need for a renewed sense of intragenerational solidarity"
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
156: Recording
Some people think they can be good preachers
because they know what ought to be said, but they pay no
attention to how it should be said, that is, the concrete way of
constructing a sermon.
They complain when people do not listen to or appreciate them, but perhaps they have never taken the trouble to find the proper way of presenting their message.
Let us remember that "the obvious importance of the content of evangelization must not overshadow the importance of its ways and means".
Concern for the way we preach is likewise a profoundly spiritual concern. It entails responding to the love of God by putting all our talents and creativity at the service of the mission which he has given us; at the same time, it shows a fine, active love of neighbour by refusing to offer others a product of poor quality.
In the Bible, for example, we can find advice on how to
prepare a homily so as to best to reach people: "Speak
concisely, say much in few words" (Sir 32:8).
-------------------------------------
10 years ago today:
After final BoB at CAS 2111 before move to Marco Polo
------------------------------------------
No trouble sleeping last night after a long day: 7.15 Mass
at local church, visit to Stanley Prison, concelebration at 8pm evening funeral
Mass at Tai Wai (for Mrs Wong, a dear friend of Notre Dame Parish in Kowloon)
--------------------------------------
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 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, Thursday,
please pacify Al-Qaeda
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Wed Aug 30
Yesterday afternoon I attended two encouraging meetings most
supportive of my anti-drug campaign. The campaign lit a fire of public concern
and government action in Tanzania four years ago, but things are moving oh so
slowly on the government front in HK. Strange ...it has been easier to get
action from the Tanzanian government than from the HK government. Every class
has fast and slow learners? ...except a class called DL (drug lords)....they are
quick to seize every initiative and exploit every opportunity. Reminds me of
Jesus' words "good people are not as skilful at doing good as bad people
are at doing bad" ...or words to that effect in Luke 16.8: "The people
of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are people of
light"
North Korea missile launch is 'reckless provocation', says Theresa May.
Notice how above article does not make the
slightest mention of the current US-South Korean military exercises off the
Korean coast - unlike this report which gives both sides of the story: China warns North Korea tensions have reached
"tipping point"
Malaysia recently released a list of 161 drug
dealers, with photos ....but 150+ of them seem to me to be
"little fish"
New HIV cases register another sharp jump
c.f. Gay
marriage: elephant in room
"Gay
marriage" ballot:
First
"No" TV advertisement
How
can HK's courts, gov't, and media be so deaf to the global chorus of criticism?
--------------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
A
year of the laity?
There have been many 'Years' of celebration
proclaimed by popes for the benefit of the Church. How about one with a
difference, a 'Year of the People' or if you prefer the phrase a 'Year of
the Laity'?
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Tobit 1:
Tobit was a Jewish
exile living in the city of Nineveh in Assyria.
Even though other
Jewish exiles, even his own relatives,
neglected their religion, Tobit stayed loyal to God. Tobit also cared for
the poor and hungry.
And he made a special practice of burying the dead.
Dear
God, please help me to be like Tobit:
loyal to you and caring for the poor
My
recording of this reading
Psalm 107: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His great love is without end. Let them say this, those the Lord has helped, people from east and west, north and south.
Some people wandered in the desert, lost and unable to find their way to safety. In their hunger and thirst they cried to the Lord for help. He rescued them and showed them the way to safety. Let them thank the Lord for his love, for he fills the hungry with good things. (Recording)
Some people were prisoners in misery and
chains,
living in darkness and gloom. In their distress they cried to the Lord for
help.
He rescued them and restored their freedom. Let them thank the Lord for his goodness,
for he shatters the iron bars of prisons. (Recording)
Some people were sick on account of their
sins,
unable to eat, and close to death. They cried to the Lord in their need.
He healed them and saved them from the grave. Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for the wonders he does for us. (Recording)
Some people sailed to the sea in ships
and were caught in terrifying storms. They cried to the Lord in their need
and he calmed the sea and wind. Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for the wonders he does for us. Whoever is wise should meditate on these
things
and reflect on the love of the Lord. Thank
you Lord, for your rescuing love. (Recording)
2
Timothy 3.2-5: For sure, some people will be self-centered
and greedy; disobedient and ungrateful to parents; heartless, difficult
to get along with; slanderers, profligates and enemies of everything that
is good. They will keep up the outward appearance of
religion,
but will have rejected its inner power. Have nothing to do with people like that.
Jesus, may my faith be real, not
just something external
Recording
Matthew
14.13-21:
Once after Jesus had been healing and
teaching many people all afternoon, his disciples said to him
"It's getting late and the people need to go and eat".
Jesus replied "They don't need to go. You feed them".
The disciples said "We have only 5 loaves and 2 fish". Jesus got the people to sit on the grass.
There were about 20,000 of them.
Then he blessed the loaves and fish. He handed the loaves and fish to his
disciples.
His disciples gave them to the crowd.
Everyone had plenty to eat.
They even had 12 baskets of leftovers.
Jesus, please make leaders do more
to help the
starving people of the world
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
When
Jesus blesses something, it goes a long way....does a lot of good...helps a lot
of people. Jesus, please bless ... my
prayers ...my words...my actions ....so that more people can be helped.
-------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
161: Recording Doomsday
predictions can no longer be met with irony or disdain.
We may well be leaving to coming generations debris, desolation and filth.
The pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planet's capacity that our contemporary lifestyle, unsustainable as it is, can only precipitate catastrophes, such as those which even now periodically occur in different areas of the world.
The effects of the present imbalance can only be reduced by our decisive action, here and now.
We need to reflect on our accountability before those who will have to endure the dire consequences.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
155: Recording
In this effort we may (need to think
of) some ordinary human experience such as a joyful reunion, a moment of
disappointment, the fear of being alone, compassion at the sufferings of others,
uncertainty about the future, concern for a loved one, and so forth.
But we need to develop a broad and profound sensitivity to what really affects other people's lives. Let us also keep in mind that we should never respond to questions that nobody asks.
Nor is it fitting to talk about the latest news in order to awaken people's interest; we have television programs for that.
It is possible, however, to start with some fact or story so that God's word can forcefully resound in its call to conversion, worship, commitment to fraternity and service, and so forth.
Yet there will always be some who readily
listen to a preacher's commentaries on current affairs, while not letting
themselves be challenged.
-------------------------------------
For preaching pastors:
"No need to talk about the latest news
in order to awaken people's interest; we have TV programs for that" - Pope,
155, above!
--------------------------------------
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 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, 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 (
The
Last Run)
--------------------
Australian Chinese for
Families Association
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
mode in Hong Kong on November 20, 2011 - the Feast of Christ
the King.
The official launching
was
held on the Gold Coast, Australia, on January 20,
2012.
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Thank you for checking this website each day. God bless all readers and bloggers!
Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡
頌 恆 神 父
jdwomi@gmail.com
HK
mobile +852- 67095674
China
mobile +86-13828421861 - (only
when in China)
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