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 Oct 3
DHs' monthly pay raised by $100, food allowance by $16; workers call it insult
(This confirms the belief of many people: the
only way to get the heartless HK govt bureacracy to move on any social issue is by media
pressure)
Archbishop
Hon transferred from Vatican to Greece
Hong
Kong-born archbishop was the only high-ranking Chinese official in the Roman
Curia.
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Matthew
25.31-46 (a):
Jesus said to his disciples: When I
come in glory at the end of the world, all peoples of all times will be gathered
in front of me. I will separate them, like a shepherd separates sheep from
goats. I will place the sheep on my right, the goats on my left. I will say to
those on my right "Come and enter my kingdom. For I was hungry, and you
gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you
made me welcome. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited
me. I was in prison, and you came to see me".
My recording of this reading
Matthew
25.31-46 (b): Then
those good people on my right will say "Lord, when did we see you hungry
and feed you? When did we see you thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see
you a stranger and welcome you, naked and clothe you, sick or in prison, and
visit you?" I will answer "Each time you helped and cared for a
poor person, you helped and cared for me".
Recording
Matthew
25.31-46 (c):
Then I will say to those on my left
"Go away from me and join Satan and his angels in hell. For I was
hungry, and you never gave me food. I was thirsty, and you never gave me
anything to drink. I was a stranger, and you never made me welcome, naked, and
you never clothed me, sick and in prison, and you never visited me".
Recording
Matthew
25.31-46 (d):
Those on my left will then ask
"Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or
in prison, and did not come to your help?" I will answer "Each time
you refused to help and care for a poor person, you refused to help and care for
me". Those on the left will then go to eternal punishment. Those on the
right will go to eternal life.
Jesus, please help me do more for poor people. Make me understand that when I
help a poor person, I help you
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings:
Half way through processing the above pieces from Mt. 25, I was called late last night to Queen Elizabeth Hospital to put the above words into practice ....to visit a 70 year old man who is dying .... turns out he was a CSD staff member ...so I felt like he was "family". Jesus, please bless him!
--------------------------------------
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 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, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
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Mon Oct 2
Most
HK people, even many community leaders, are still not aware of the damage done
in North America, Europe and other places by the cultural typhoon that is the
LGBT radical agenda ...as described in the articles linked here
The HK government currently is holding a consultation on the same-sex marriage issue. The consultation document is here. The consulation closes on October 31. Yesterday I emailed my submission:
I hope many HK readers will likewise email a submission ....for the sake of our society
------
South China Morning Post Sep 30 photo of Sep 29 Spirit of HK Awards - with Chief Executive Carrie Lam
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Readings - c.f. Feast of the Guardian Angels
Exodus 23:
The Lord says this: "I myself will send an
angel before you to guard you as you go and to bring you to the place
that I have prepared. Give him reverence and listen to all that he says. Offer
him no defiance; he would not pardon such a fault, for my name is in him. If
you listen carefully to his voice and do all that I say, I shall be enemy to
your enemies, foe to your foes. My angel will go before you."
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
91: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most
High says to the Lord "you are my refuge in whom I trust". The
Lord will hide you and protect you. Under his wings you will find refuge. You
will not fear any night time terror, nor any attack during the day. Upon
you no evil shall fall, no plague approach where you dwell. For you has he
commanded his angels
to keep you safe in all your ways.
Recording
Acts 12:
When
Peter was rescued from prison, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John
Mark where people were praying for him, thinking he was still in prison. A
servant girl opened the door when Peter knocked. She ran inside to tell the
group that Peter was at the door. The group did not believe Peter was
there. One of them said "it must be his
angel". Eventually they
opened the door and Peter described how an angel had rescued him from
prison.
Recording
Matthew 18.1: The disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said, "I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven."
Reflection
on the above readings:
I recommend this little
prayer which I've said each morning and night for 60 years:
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's
love commits me here. Ever this day (night) be at my side to light and guard, to
rule and guide. Amen
Today is also the feast day of the inspiring African saint St Josephina Bakhita
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
190: Listen
Here too, it should always be kept in mind that
"environmental protection cannot be assured solely on the basis of
financial calculations of costs and benefits. The environment is one of those
goods that cannot be adequately safeguarded or promoted by market forces".
Once more, we need to reject a magical conception of the market, which would suggest that problems can be solved simply by an increase in the profits of companies or individuals.
Is it realistic to hope that those who are obsessed with maximizing profits will stop to reflect on the environmental damage which they will leave behind for future generations?
Where profits alone count, there can be no thinking about the rhythms of nature, its phases of decay and regeneration, or the complexity of ecosystems which may be gravely upset by human intervention.
Moreover, biodiversity is considered at most a deposit of economic resources available for exploitation, with no serious thought for the real value of things, their significance for persons and cultures, or the concerns and needs of the poor.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
179a: Listen
This inseparable bond
between our acceptance of the message of salvation and genuine fraternal love
appears in several scriptural texts which we would do well to meditate upon, in
order to appreciate all their consequences.
The message is one which we often take for granted, and can repeat almost mechanically, without necessarily ensuring that it has a real effect on our lives and in our communities.
How dangerous and harmful this is, for it
makes us lose our amazement, our excitement and our zeal for living the Gospel
of fraternity and justice!
-------------------------------------
Today in HK is a public holiday for National Day (Oct 1).
Thursday is a public holiday for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Might be above-average
absenteeism tomorrow and Wednesday as people take a long break (starting last
Saturday)?
--------------------------------------
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 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, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
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Sun Oct 1
Photos here of yesterday's blessing and opening of the Mercy Centre on Cheung Chau Island for homeless people. Thank you Jesus for a really blessed day .... starting with the miraculous way the weather fined up just as our group arrived at Cheung Chau!
Sep 29 South China Morning Post Spirit of HK Awards - my little speech asking HK govt to support my anti-drug campaign is the last 2-3 mins of this video (video starts after 20 seconds)
'Close to genocide' San Juan mayor's dire appeal to US for Puerto Rico relief
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sun 26
Ezekiel 12-18:
Ezekiel
spoke God's message for the false
prophets:
"You have misled my people.
You have not bothered to protect my people".
Ezekiel
also called on the people to stop
their idolatry.
He reminded them how to follow the Lord: A good person is law-abiding and
honest; a good person oppresses no one, never steals; a good person gives food and clothing to the poor.
"God takes no delight in the death
of a sinner.
God hopes the sinner will renounce wickedness and live."
Lord, please help me to avoid evil .....
and do
more good
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
24-26: The Lord's is the earth and all its peoples.
It is the Lord who is Creator of the universe. May all hearts open their doors to the Lord.
Let him enter, the king of glory. Lord I hope in you all the day long.
Forgive my sins and help me walk in your truth.
God my savior, teach me your
way of truth
Listen
Philippians
1.27 - 2.4:
Avoid anything in your
everyday lives that would be unworthy of the Good News of Christ. Be united in your
convictions, and united in your love.
There must be no competition among you, no conceit. Everyone should be
self-effacing.
Always regard others as better than yourself. Put others interests
before your own.
Jesus, help me say
"no" to anything unworthy of your Good News
Listen
Matthew 21.28-32: Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people, "What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He went and said to the first, "My boy, you go and work in the vineyard today." He answered, "I will not go," but afterwards thought better of it and went. The man then went and said the same thing to the second who answered, "Certainly, sir," but did not go. Which of the two did the father's will?' 'The first' they said. Jesus said to them, 'I tell you solemnly, tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you, a pattern of true righteousness, but you did not believe him, and yet the tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him.'
Reflection on the above readings:
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
189b: Listen
The financial crisis of 2007-08 provided an
opportunity to develop a new economy, more attentive to ethical principles, and
new ways of regulating speculative financial practices and virtual wealth.
But the response to the crisis did not include rethinking the outdated criteria which continue to rule the world.
Production is not always rational, and is usually tied to economic variables which assign to products a value that does not necessarily correspond to their real worth.
This frequently leads to an overproduction of some commodities, with unnecessary impact on the environment and with negative results on regional economies.
The financial bubble also tends to be a productive bubble.
The problem of the real economy is not confronted with vigour, yet it is the real economy which makes diversification and improvement in production possible, helps companies to function well, and enables small and medium businesses to develop and create employment.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
178d: Listen
The very mystery of the Trinity reminds us that we
have been created in the image of that divine communion, and so we
cannot achieve fulfilment or salvation purely by our own efforts.
From the heart of the Gospel we see the profound connection between evangelization and human advancement, which must necessarily find expression and develop in every work of evangelization.
Accepting the first proclamation, which invites us to
receive God’s love and to love him in return with the very love which is his
gift, brings forth in our lives and actions a primary and
fundamental response: to desire, seek and protect
the good of others.
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
------------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
Last
night I learnt how to save a video from Facebook (from site of South China
Morning Post): Change "www" to "m". Then click the
Play icon on the video to start playing the video. Then right-click on the video
and select Save video as...
--------------------------------------
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 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, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
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Sat Sep 30
Thank you Jesus! Today at midday, HK Vicar General Rev Dominic Chan is due to bless and open our new shelter for homeless people: The Mercy Centre 善樂舍. The shelter is operated by a coming NGO - MercyHK - whose core members are Tony Chan, Lucia Leung and I. Many thanks to so many kind people who have supported our work. And...more good news...as of yesterday afternoon, our website is now "up": www.mercyhk.org God is good!
Report on last night's South China Morning Post Spirit of HK Awards
Recommended by a reader in Australia - with
lyrics:
Christ
Be Our Light
Q:
What does Pope say about "saving (no
pun intended) banks at any cost"?
A:
See 189, below
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Judith
12: Holofernes allowed Judith and her maid to
stay in a special tent each night, and each morning to go to a spring near
Bethulia to wash and pray.
After 3 days, Holofernes held a banquet for his staff.
He invited Judith to the banquet with the aim of seducing her. Holofernes was so captivated by Judith's
beauty
that he kept on drinking wine until he was drunk. All the while Judith kept praying to God for
strength and help.
Dear God, please give me
a bit more of Judith's faith and courage
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
133: How good and how pleasant it is
when people live in unity. It is like precious oil upon the head,
running down upon the beard. It is like the dew of Hermon
which falls on the heights of Zion. For there the Lord gives his blessing,
life for ever.
Dear Lord, please help all the
peoples of the world
to live as one family, in unity.
Listen
Hebrews
11.1 - 12.15:
Only faith can keep us going. Only faith
helped Abraham and other famous people in the Scriptures to keep going. So many of them were weak people who were
given strength by God, to be brave when life became difficult. With so many witnesses in a great cloud all
around us, we too should keep running in the race we have started. We
should get rid of everything that slows us down. Keep focusing on Jesus. He is running beside
us. His example going to the cross gives us courage. Try to live at peace with everyone. Don't let
any seed of bitterness begin to grown and make trouble. This can poison a
whole community.
Jesus, help me remember your presence
in my heart
Listen
Matthew
24.9-44: Jesus spoke to his disciples about the
future:
"On account of my name you will be hated, tortured and killed.
But the Good News of the kingdom will spread to every nation
before the end of the world. At the end of the world, the sun
and moon will stop shining.
Stars will fall from the sky. Then the sign of the Son of Man
will appear in the sky
and all peoples will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds
with power and glory.
He will send his angels with a loud trumpet
to gather good people from all parts of the earth. Therefore you should
live a good life,
and you will have nothing to fear on your last day."
Jesus, please help me be a good person
Listen
Reflection on the above readings:
If/when we are ridiculed/persecuted (Gospel), let's try to stay focused on Jesus (Hebrews), united with other believers (Psalm), imitating the faith and courage of Judith
----------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
189a: Listen Politics
must not be subject to the economy, nor should the economy be subject to the
dictates of an efficiency-driven paradigm of technocracy.
Today, in view of the common good, there is urgent need for politics and economics to enter into a frank dialogue in the service of life, especially human life.
Saving banks at any cost, making the public pay the price, foregoing a firm commitment to reviewing and reforming the entire system, only reaffirms the absolute power of a financial system, a power which has no future and will only give rise to new crises after a slow, costly and only apparent recovery
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
178c: Listen
To believe that the Holy
Spirit is at work in everyone means realizing that he
seeks to penetrate every human situation and all social bonds:
"The Holy Spirit can be said to possess an infinite creativity, proper to the divine mind, which knows how to loosen the knots of human affairs, even the most complex and inscrutable".
Evangelization
is meant to cooperate with this liberating work of the Spirit.
-------------------------------------
Yesterday I was at the High Court for the case of a South
American man whose name includes "Rafael".....on the Feast Day of
Saints Michael, Gabriel and Rafael! And the kind
judge gave Rafael (the man, not the angel) a discount of 6 months for taking
part in my anti-drug campaign. Thank you Archangel Rafael! .....and ...last
night at the South China Morning Post's Spirit of HK Awards, one of the
recipients was named Rafael!
--------------------------------------
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 30th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shanghai
& Tianjin
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 30th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Haiti
& Nepal
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
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Fri Sep 29
Prison is an inevitable part of
HK's exhausting path to democracy
by 20 year old Joshua Wong, an inmate at Pik Uk Correctional Institution, Hong Kong
Nationwide prayer initiative to preserve marriage
ARE YOU WONDERING WHY SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS A BIG
DEAL?
- three
short videos by a former gay man
Update from Australian Chinese
for Families Association:
爱？平等？宽容?
- Love? Equality? Tolerance?
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Readings for Feast of the angels
Michael, Gabriel, Raphael
Tobit 12
(Raphael): When
Tobit's banquet was finished, Tobit wanted to thank Raphael
for all his help. Only then did Raphael tell Tobit and Tobias that he was an
angel sent by God to help them. "I am Raphael, one of the 7 angels who
stand ever ready to enter the presence of the glory of the Lord. Never tire of
giving God thanks. And never tire of helping the poor." Raphael farewelled
them, rose in the air, and left them. They praised and thanked God for all he
had done for them.
Dear God, thank you for all
your love, all your blessings
My
recording of this reading
Psalm 138: I
thank you, Lord, with all my heart. You have heard the words of my mouth. With the
angels I will bless you. I will adore you in your
holy temple. I thank you for your faithfulness and love which are far above what
we can understand. On the day I called you answered. You increased the strength
of my soul. All earth's kings shall thank you when they hear the words of your
mouth. They shall sing of the Lord's ways: "How great is the glory of the
Lord!"
Lord, when we remember how much
you love us and help us, every day of the year is a Thanksgiving Day
Recording
Revelation 12
(Michael):
Then war broke out in heaven.
Michael and his angels
fought the dragon and his angels. Michael
won. Satan and his followers were driven out of heaven. The great dragon, the
serpent, known as the Devil or Satan, was hurled down to earth. His angels were
hurled down with him. The dragon began to make war on the children of the Woman -
those who obey God and bear witness to Jesus.
Jesus,
may your holy angels protect us from Satan
Recording
Luke 1
(Gabriel): In
the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel
to the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary
who was betrothed to a man named Joseph. The
angel said to her "Mary, Rejoice! You have been greatly blessed by God. You
are to conceive and have a son whom you must name Jesus. He will be great and
will be called the Son of God". Mary said to the angel, "How can this
happen since I am a virgin?" The angel replied
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will
specially bless you. Know this too: your cousin Elizabeth has, in her old age,
conceived a son, and is now in her sixth month". "I
am the handmaid of the Lord", said Mary, "let what you have said, be
done for me". And the angel left her.
God the Son, thank you for becoming a baby in Mary's womb
Recording
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
Notice how the names Raphael,
Michael and Gabriel
all end in "el" which means "God"!
When we are sick: we can ask Raphael
("Medicine of God") to pray for us. When we are in danger, we can ask Michael
("Who is like God") to pray for us. When we feel powerless and weak,
we can ask Gabriel
("God is my strength) to pray for us.
----------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
188: Listen
There are certain environmental issues where it is
not easy to achieve a broad consensus.
Here I would state once more that the Church does not presume to settle scientific questions or to replace politics.
But I am concerned to encourage an honest and open debate so that particular interests or ideologies will not prejudice the common good.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
178b: Listen
Our
redemption has a social dimension because "God, in Christ, redeems
not only the individual person, but also the social
relations existing between people"
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
David & Trudy from Australia: Xinxing, Zhaoqing, Yunfu leper center
------------------------------------------
Yesterday I attended an encouraging meeting with a legal
team ....using information obtained from my recent visit to Kuala Lumpur....to
help some inmates soon to have their cases heard in court
--------------------------------------
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 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, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
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Thu Sep 28
Email yesterday from South China Morning Post re
Spirit of HK
Awards:
Good morning Father John, Hope you are well.
For this Friday's dinner , we will have a short Facebook Live segment for revealing the People's Choice Award. We see that you have a very high chance of winning the award (thank you to your supporters!), would you like to tell your friends and supporters to watch it live on FB? The award will be announced at around 9.15pm.
You may wish to like and follow our Facebook page in advance https://www.facebook.com/scmp/ so that a notification will pop up at that time to remind you of the FB Live. You may then share the Live FB post to your friends.
Thanks so much and see you this Friday!
Regards,
Ellen
Ellen Yeung
Senior Manager, Corporate Social Responsibilities
South China Morning Post
---------------
March 8
email from a kind lawyer who supports my anti-drug campaign:
Dear
John,
I
am working with Paul Zimmerman , Southern District Councillor and CEO of
Designing Hong Kong on various matters. He asked me
recently to nominate people for the above awards. I think the good
work you are doing is worthy of an award and I would like to
nominate you. Are you willing for your name to be put forward?
Kind
regards ......
-------
Yesterday I voted in the "same-sex marriage" ballot:
/2017-09-27-marriage-survey-01.jpg)
/2017-09-27-marriage-survey-02.jpg)
/2017-09-27-marriage-survey-03.jpg)
/2017-09-27-marriage-survey-04.jpg)
/2017-09-27-marriage-survey-05.jpg)
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Judith
11: Judith was very clever when she spoke to
Holofernes.
She told him that the Jews would be abandoned by God
if they broke God's laws. She said that the Jews planned to
break God's laws
in a few days by eating consecrated foods. She said she would monitor the
situation each day and let Holofernes know when the Jews were abandoned by
God and ready to be attacked by Holofernes. Judith's words and beauty won
over Holofernes and his staff
and they agreed to her suggestions.
Dear God, please give us wisdom
and tact
for dealing with difficult people
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
130: Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice.
If you, O Lord, should
record our guilt,
Lord, who would survive? But with you is found
forgiveness.
For this we revere you. My soul is waiting for the Lord.
I count on his word. My soul is longing for the Lord
more than watchman for the daybreak. With the Lord there is mercy
and fullness of redemption. Israel indeed he will redeem
from all its iniquity.
Lord, please forgive me for all
the bad things I have done
Listen
Hebrews
10.32-39:
Remember all the suffering you experienced
after you became Christians - the insults and violence, the loss of
your possessions. Don't give up now. Keep going in your
Christian life.
You and I are not the sort of people who give up.
We are the sort of people who stay faithful until our souls are saved.
Jesus, help me keep going,
despite difficulties
Listen
Matthew
23.1-36: Jesus told the people to respect
their religious leaders, but he condemned the religious leaders:
- for not practising what they preached; for doing things just to attract attention;
for craving front seats and places of honor; for being concerned only with externals.
Jesus called the religious
leaders "hypocrites", "blind guides", "tombs that look good on the outside but are full of dead
bones".
Jesus, help religious leaders be good
people
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
Hebrews says "don't give up". Judith was someone who didn't give up ...even as she longed for God's help like a watchman longing for daybreak. May the Lord give us a bit more of Judith's courage (and cleverness!)
-------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
187: Listen This
does not mean being opposed to any technological innovations which can bring
about an improvement in the quality of life.
But it does mean that profit cannot be the sole criterion to be taken into account, and that, when significant new information comes to light, a reassessment should be made, with the involvement of all interested parties.
The outcome may be a decision not to proceed with a given project, to modify it or to consider alternative proposals.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
178a: Listen
To believe in a Father
who loves all men and women with an infinite love
means realizing that "he thereby confers upon them an infinite
dignity".
To believe that the Son of God assumed our human flesh means that each human person has been taken up into the very heart of God.
To believe that Jesus shed
his blood for us removes any doubt about the boundless love which
ennobles each human being.
-------------------------------------
10 years ago today:
------------------------------------------
Yesterday morning I attended two cases at the High Court -
wearing my wig for the first one ...to keep warm. One friendly barrister I know
...wearing his wig.... asked me "what are you wearing a wig for?" I
said something about keeping warm....(very cold air-conditioning gave me a cold
a few weeks ago).
--------------------------------------
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 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, Thursday,
please pacify Al-Qaeda
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Wed Sep 27
Today is the feast day of one of my favourite saints - Vincent de Paul. He had a great love for prisoners ....because he had been one
Hospitals in crisis as Middle Eastern countries poach medical staff
Has Canada Really Changed since Marriage was
Redefined?
Doctors
and other professionals praising new book: The Health Hazards of
Homosexuality
--------------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
In
the poverty of the Christ
Early in his ministry as Bishop of
Rome, Francis put the principle of a Church of the Poor at the forefront of his
teaching. A Church that is poor, speaking to those who are poor. A Church of the
Poor that preaches through an example of poverty is indeed recognisable as the
Church of Christ.
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Judith 10: Judith put on her most beautiful clothes and
jewelry.
Then she and her maid headed for the Assyrian camp. She told the Assyrian soldiers that she was
fleeing from Bethulia since it would soon be attacked. She said she wanted to give Holofernes some
important information. The soldiers took her to meet Holofernes.
Dear God, please give us the
courage of Judith
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
128: O blessed are those who love the Lord and
walk in his ways. By the labor of your hands you shall eat.
You will be happy and prosper: your wife like a fruitful vine in the heart of
your house;
your children like shoots of the olive, around your table. Indeed thus shall be blessed
the people who love and honor the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days
of your life.
May you see your children's children in a happy Jerusalem!
On Israel, peace!
Dear Lord, may all married
people live to see their children's children
Listen
Hebrews
10.21-25: Jesus is the supreme High Priest of the whole
house of God.
As we enter that house, let us have sincere hearts that are filled with
faith and hope. Let us be concerned for each other,
encouraging each other to do good. Do not stay away from the meetings as some
people do,
but encourage each other to attend.
Jesus, may my life encourage others to
do good
Listen
Matthew
22.34-40:
In Jerusalem a religious leader
asked Jesus
"Which is the most important commandment?" Jesus replied
"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart.
And you must care as much about others as you care about yourself. These are the two most important
commandments.
All other commandments depend on these two."
Jesus, please help me love you with all my heart
and care for others as much as I care about myself
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings:
The
article by Chris McDonnell, above, is a really excellent reflection on today's
Gospel!
-------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
186: Listen The
Rio Declaration of 1992 states that "where there are threats of serious or
irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a
pretext for postponing cost-effective measures" which prevent environmental
degradation.
This precautionary principle makes it possible to protect those who are most vulnerable and whose ability to defend their interests and to assemble incontrovertible evidence is limited.
If objective information suggests that serious and irreversible damage may result, a project should be halted or modified, even in the absence of indisputable proof.
Here the burden of proof is effectively reversed, since in such cases objective and conclusive demonstrations will have to be brought forward to demonstrate that the proposed activity will not cause serious harm to the environment or to those who inhabit it.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
177: Listen
The kerygma has a clear social
content: at the very heart of the Gospel is life in
community and engagement with others. The content
of the first proclamation has an immediate moral implication centred on charity
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
------------------------------------------
Anti-govt messages hidden inside free mooncakes
--------------------------------------
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 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, 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
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the King.
The official launching
was
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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
when in China)
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