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 Dec 5
What a great photo from Bangladesh!
Many good things happen that are never reported in the media:
e.g. Last Friday night a dozen secondary school students, with a teacher and their principal, travelled a long way across HK to help give out rice boxes to a group of needy people in Yau Ma Tei
e.g. Last Saturday a group of volunteers took a bus load of poor people from the Yau Ma Tei area to Disneyland.
Pope's
(very Frank) press conference on plane returning home from Bangladesh/Burma
"A
trip to China is not being prepared. Be calm. For the moment, it is not being
prepared. But, returning from Korea, when they told me that we were flying over
Chinese territory, I wanted to say something: I would so much like to visit
China. I would like to. It is not a hidden thing. The negotiations with China
are at a high level"
My article in today's Ming Pao newspaper has the topic: Memo to HK airport Customs. It is on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK". Text without recording
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Proverbs 19-22: Where reflection is wanting, zeal is not
good.
People who go too quickly miss their way. Whoever is kind to the poor is kind to the
Lord.
The Lord will repay such kindness. Children at play
show what sort of people they will be in the future. Better the corner of a loft to live in
than a house shared with a scolding spouse. Better to live in a desert land
than with a scolding and irritable spouse. Instruct children in goodness and justice
and they will always be good adults.
Lord, please help me put
into practice the ideas in these words
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
69-70: Save me, O God, for the waters have risen to
my neck.
I am sinking fast and can't keep afloat much longer. So many people hate me without cause.
I have no more strength to resist them. May my situation not cause anyone to lose
faith in you.
May people realize that it is for your sake that I am taunted. Taunts have broken my heart.
No one shows me any compassion. For food they give me poison.
In my thirst they give me vinegar to drink. Lord, do not hide your face from your servant.
Answer quickly for I am in distress. You are my rescuer, my help, O God.
O Lord, do not delay to help me.
O God come to our
assistance. Lord make haste to help us
Listen
Revelation
3.7-9: He gave me this message for the church in
Philadelphia: "I am opening a new door of opportunity
for you
to spread the Good News. I will move people to accept the Good News
from you.
I will keep you safe in time of trial".
Jesus, please give me more opportunities to spread
the Good News
Listen
Mark
10.01-12a:
One day some religious leaders put Jesus to the test by asking him
"Is it against the Law of Moses for a man to divorce his wife?" Jesus replied "God created male and
female, for the two to become united as one body. What God has
united, no one should separate." The religious leaders then asked
"But why did Moses allow divorce?" Jesus replied "Moses allowed divorce
because people were so hard of heart. But divorce was not God's
plan. So I say to you, anyone who walks out on their
partner and marries someone else, is guilty of adultery."
Jesus, please help married
people stay together
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings:
By chance today's first
reading and Gospel both speak about spousal conflict. Maybe some spouses would
also throw in today's Psalms. God bless all spouses!
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text
Full
Chinese text
231: Listen
There also exists a constant tension between ideas and realities.
Realities simply are, whereas ideas are worked out. There has to be continuous
dialogue between the two, lest ideas become detached from realities. It is
dangerous to dwell in the realm of words alone, of images and rhetoric. So a
third principle comes into play: realities are greater than ideas. This calls
for rejecting the various means of masking reality: angelic forms of purity,
dictatorships of relativism, empty rhetoric, objectives more ideal than real,
brands of ahistorical fundamentalism, ethical systems bereft of kindness,
intellectual discourse bereft of wisdom.
232: Listen: Ideas - conceptual elaborations - are at the service of communication, understanding, and practice. Ideas disconnected from realities give rise to ineffectual forms of idealism and nominalism, capable at most of classifying and defining, but certainly not calling to action. What calls us to action are realities illuminated by reason. Formal nominalism has to give way to harmonious objectivity. Otherwise, the truth is manipulated, cosmetics take the place of real care for our bodies. We have politicians - and even religious leaders - who wonder why people do not understand and follow them, since their proposals are so clear and logical. Perhaps it is because they are stuck in the realm of pure ideas and end up reducing politics or faith to rhetoric. Others have left simplicity behind and have imported a rationality foreign to most people.
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
Prayers
please for A-Lin, cancer of neck/face + rice harvesting
Welcome back
for a visit former CAS teacher Paul from Adelaide
------------------------------------------
Yesterday I saw something I had not seen this year.
Yesterday was the first time to see this phenomenon this year: someone using a
public phone!
--------------------------------------
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
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Mon Dec 4
For three years I have been lobbying the MTR to change the names
of two new stations - see this
article. Last week it happened: names
have been fixed up! Thank you Jesus!
The latest Ming Pao Magazine
(in Chinese) features stories about Fr
Franco Mella, myself,
Pastor Charles MacKnelly and Brother Patrick O'Donnovan. Notice the similarities
in photos of my home and that of Fr Franco!
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Proverbs
18:
Foolish people are not interested in reflection,
but only in airing their own opinion. The human heart is haughty until disaster
strikes.
Humility goes before honor. Don't reply to someone until you've listened
to their views.
Be slow to interrupt someone who is speaking.
Lord, please help me to be a
good listener
My
recording of this reading
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
Revelation
3.1-3: He gave me this message for the church
in Sardis: "I know all about you. You are a shining
red apple on the outside,
but inside you are rotten. Wake up, revive your faith and love.
Remember the eagerness you showed
when you first heard the Good News. Listen to this message and repent"
Jesus, don't ever let me become a rotten
apple
Listen
Mark
9.38-41: Jesus' apostle John, said "Master,
we saw a man who is not one of our group casting out devils in your name.
Because he was not one of us, we tried to stop him". Jesus said "You must not stop him. No one
who works a miracle in my name is going to speak evil of me. Anyone who is
not against us
is for us. In fact, even someone who gives you a cup of
water to drink because you belong to me, will be rewarded"
Jesus, please help me stop
dividing people into "us and them"
Listen
Reflection on the above readings:
The Bible has so much wise advice for our lives...as in today's readings. Let's resolve to access this wisdom each day
--------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
246d: Listen
God of love, show us our place in this world as
channels of your love for all the creatures of this earth, for not one of them
is forgotten in your sight.
Enlighten those who possess power and money that they may avoid the sin of indifference, that they may love the common good, advance the weak, and care for this world in which we live.
The poor and the earth are crying out.
O Lord, seize us with your power and light, help us to protect all life, to prepare for a better future, for the coming of your Kingdom of justice, peace, love and beauty.
Praise be to you! Amen.
(This is the final article of Laudato Si. Over the past two years I've gone through it twice - one article per day. From tomorrow I'll use two articles each day instead of one from The Joy of the Gospel, below ...in order to finish it (for the 3rd time!) before Christmas ....so that when I'm on the road after Christmas...in South America...this website can be a bit shorter and easier for me to prepare.... just Bible readings and special articles)
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
230: Listen
The message of peace is
not about a negotiated settlement but rather the
conviction that the unity brought by the Spirit can harmonize every
diversity.
It overcomes every conflict by creating a new and promising synthesis.
Diversity is a beautiful thing when it can constantly enter into a process of reconciliation and seal a sort of cultural covenant resulting in a "reconciled diversity".
As the bishops of the
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
Happy Christmas English classes with primary students at Xinqiao and Ng Chuen schools
------------------------------------------
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 Dec 3
First Sunday of Advent
Pope
gets laughs in Bangladesh after diplomatic tightrope
Pope speaks to young people at Notre Dame College in
Bangladesh
HK
Caritas worker on her 22 years helping people of North Korea
465 years ago today, in 1552, on a remote island
off the coast of China, Saint
Francis Xavier died. He could see China some 14km across the sea, but could
not enter it. In the months before he died, he offered up his suffering that
someone else might follow him and enter China. On October 6, 1552, Matteo
Ricci was born in Italy. Xavier's prayer was answered two months before he
died. With hindsight, we can see that for the spread of the Gospel in China,
Ricci's cultural approach was a more suitable missionary method than Xavier's
direct evangelisation. Maybe this is why God allowed Xavier to leave the scene
without entering China.
Xavier died on the island today known as Shangchuan. I've been privileged to visit there a number of times: e.g. 1993 & 2005. But only after checking above Wiki article did I know that the name "Shangchuan" means "Saint John"!
HK, like India, needs to remember the truth about colonialism
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Advent 1
Isaiah 62-66: The Lord says:
"My eyes are drawn to the humble and contrite person
who lovingly meditates on my word. Towards Jerusalem I will send peace,
flowing like a river. I am going to gather the nations of every language.
All peoples will know and love me
Lord, please give me more love
for the Bible. Please give the world more peace. Please help all peoples know and love
you
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
Listen
1
Corinthians 1.1-10: I, Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle,
send greetings to the church of God in Corinth. May God our Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. I never stop thanking God for all the graces
you have received through Jesus Christ. The witness to Christ has been strong among
you. God shares with us the life of his Son, Jesus.
God helps us to be faithful as followers of Jesus. I appeal to you to be united in belief and
practice. Put an end to the differences between you
Jesus, Son of God, thank you for all the
graces I have received
Listen
Mark
13.1-37: 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 live and
grow and die in your love ...
and not be afraid of death
Listen
Reflection on the above readings:
Daniel Daring: Return O Lord of Hosts!
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
246c: Listen
Triune Lord, wondrous community of infinite love,
teach us to contemplate you in the beauty of the universe, for all things speak
of you. Awaken our praise and thankfulness for every being that you have made.
Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined to everything that is.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
229: Listen
This
principle, drawn from the Gospel, reminds us that Christ has made all things one
in himself: heaven and earth, God and man, time and eternity, flesh and spirit,
person and society.
The sign
of this unity and reconciliation of all things in him is peace. Christ "is
our peace" (Eph
Peace is possible because the Lord has overcome the world and its constant conflict "by making peace through the blood of his cross".
But if we look more closely at these biblical texts, we find that the locus of this reconciliation of differences is within ourselves, in our own lives, ever threatened as they are by fragmentation and breakdown.
If
hearts are shattered in thousands of pieces, it is not easy to create authentic
peace in society.
-------------------------------------
10
years ago today:
Thank you CAS for again allowing poor children to have their sports day at CAS
------------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
Early
last night after visiting someone at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, I went to Tsim
Sha Tsui to buy IDD cards for prison inmates (...best place in HK to buy
cards....can get $50 cards for $36). But the young Indian man serving me was a
new guy from previous times...and I guessed right: he didn't have HK ID...he was
working illegally. So I said to him and his boss...please don't do this...I
don't want to see you in prison!
--------------------------------------
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
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Sat Dec 2
Since the Pope was in Bangladesh yesterday I made it a point yesterday to mix especially with Bangladesh inmates at Lai Chi Kok men's prison.
Scroll down for drone footage showing extent of sprawling camps on Bangladesh
border:
Pope uses "Rohingya"
in Bangladesh
A very complicated history: The
Rohingya People
Alibaba
launches US$1.5 billion fund to help fight poverty in China
Ma said his commitment to poverty
relief had also been inspired by late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, chief
architect of the nation's reform and opening-up. "Without
Deng Xiaoping, there would be no us. He called on the people who become rich
earlier to help others who are still poor. Now that we are rich today, we
should fulfil this commitment and help more people get rich."
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Proverbs
17: Better a dry crust of bread eaten in peace
than a house where feasting and argument go together. Whoever avoids talking about
offences, promotes love.
Whoever keeps on talking about offences, divides friends. A person who controls the tongue has
knowledge.
People of discernment control their temper.
Lord, please give me a kind
tongue
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
52-60: Lord, I will tell everyone about how good you
are.
You are our Creator. Everyone should love you. Thank you for so often rescuing me from
trouble.
You uphold my life. Sometimes I have so many troubles and cares
that I can't get to sleep.
Sometimes I wish I was a bird and could fly away to a safe place. When I fear, I will trust in you,
in you whose word I praise. My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready.
I will sing, I will sing your praise. Each morning I will sing of your strength,
and each morning acclaim your love.
O God, please help me to praise
and love you every day
Listen
Revelation
2.18-22:
He gave me this message for the church in
Thyatira: "I know how charitable you are.
I see you faith and devotion, and your courage in suffering. But some of you are being misled by a false
teacher.
You are imitating her bad behavior. Listen to this message and repent"
Jesus, please don't let me imitate bad
behavior
Listen
/1993-06-07shangchuan01.jpg){kind=link}
Mark
9.33-35: One day Jesus heard his disciples arguing about which one of them was the most important.
So he said to them "If you want to be No.
1, you must become No. 1,000 and a servant of everyone else".
Jesus, help world
leaders care more about their people
than about
themselves
Listen
Reflection on the above readings:
Perhaps the greatest crisis in the world today is the crisis in leadership. How many leaders are "servants" (Gospel)?
----------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
246: Listen
Father, we praise you with all your creatures. They came forth from your all-powerful hand; they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love.
Praise be to you! Son of God, Jesus, through you all things were made. You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother, you became part of this earth, and you gazed upon this world with human eyes. Today you are alive in every creature in your risen glory. Praise be to you!
Holy Spirit, by your light you guide this world towards the
Father's love and accompany creation as it groans in travail.
You also dwell in our hearts and you inspire us to do what is good. Praise be to
you!
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
228: Listen
In this way it becomes possible to build communion
amid disagreement, but this can only be achieved by those great persons who are
willing to go beyond the surface of the conflict and to see others in their
deepest dignity.
This requires acknowledging a principle indispensable to the building of friendship in society: namely, that unity is greater than conflict.
Solidarity, in its deepest and most challenging sense, thus becomes a way of making history in a life setting where conflicts, tensions and oppositions can achieve a diversified and life-giving unity.
This is not to opt
for a kind of syncretism, or for the absorption of one into the other, but
rather for a resolution which takes place on a higher plane and preserves what
is valid and useful on both sides.
-------------------------------------
Pro-Spanish,
the course I'm using to get ready for my trip to South America, recently
released a revision course which consists of 3-5 minute lessons ...ideal for
trips on the MTR (metro). I was able to check two lessons each way on the
journey to Lai Chi Kok men's prison yesterday ...using earphones with my mobile
phone....up with the latest fashion (?)
--------------------------------------
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
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Fri Dec 1
Malaysian tour group arrested at airport with HK$4 million of ketamine
(this report says no arrests from Malaysia for 10 years. Not true. There have
about a dozen in the past 5 years, two of them last year)
Pope
visits Myanmar and Bangladesh - in pictures
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Proverbs 16: A person proposes, God disposes.
Ask the Lord to bless all your plans. Kindness and loyalty make up for sin.
Love of the Lord brings avoidance of evil. If the Lord is pleased with your way of life,
he will cause your enemies to become your friends. Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall. A troublemaker sows strife.
A talebearer separates friends. Better to be a peaceful person than a hero.
Better to be master of yourself than the conqueror of a city.
Lord, please give me a humble,
peaceful spirit
Psalm
51: Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness,
and cleanse me of my sin. My offences truly I know them.
What is evil in your sight I have done. But in my defence please don't forget that
sinfulness is part of the human condition, part of our DNA. A pure heart create for me, O God.
Put a steadfast spirit within me. Give me again the joy of your help.
With a spirit of fervor sustain me.
Lord, you will not spurn
a humbled, contrite heart
Listen
Revelation
2.12-16:
He gave me this message for the church in
Pergamum: "I know you live in a place where idol
worship is strong.
I know you have stayed faithful, even after one of you was killed. But some of you have compromised yourselves by
eating food sacrificed to idols. And some of you have followed false
teachers. Listen to this message and repent"
Jesus, don't let me ever compromise my faith
Listen
Mark
9.14-29: A man brought his son to Jesus and pleaded:
"Master, there is a spirit of dumbness in
my son. When it takes hold of him, it throws him to the ground, and he
foams at the mouth and goes rigid". They brought the boy. As soon as the spirit
saw Jesus, it threw the boy into convulsions. Jesus asked the father "How long has this
been happening?"
He replied "From childhood....please help us!" Jesus said "Everything is possible if you
have faith".
The father cried out "Please increase my faith!" Jesus rebuked the evil spirit: "Deaf and
dumb spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again".
The spirit came out, but the boy seemed to
have died. Jesus took him by the hand and helped him up. Jesus' disciples asked "Why were we
unable to expel that spirit?"
Jesus replied "Only prayer can drive out that kind of spirit".
Jesus, please help me pray
better,
so that I can help other people more
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
How much our world of conflict needs the wisdom of today's reading from Proverbs!
----------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
246: Listen
All-powerful God, you are present in the
whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your
tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may
protect life and beauty. Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and
sisters, harming no one. O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and
forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes. Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not
pollution and destruction. Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at
the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and
contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as
we journey towards your infinite light. We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
227: Listen
When
conflict arises, some people simply look at it and
go their way as if nothing happened; they wash their hands of it and get on with
their lives.
Others embrace it in such a way that they become its prisoners; they lose their bearings, project onto institutions their own confusion and dissatisfaction and thus make unity impossible.
But there is also a third way, and it is the best way to deal with conflict. It is the willingness to face conflict head on, to resolve it and to make it a link in the chain of a new process. "Blessed are the peacemakers!"
-------------------------------------
Yesterday I spent 5 hours at Lai King Correctional
Institution, a centre for women under 21 years old. My first ever time to visit
this institution. When I went to the staff canteen for lunch, the centre's
superintendant kindly invited me to sit at his table ...for a free meal. God
bless him and the centre!
--------------------------------------
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
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Thu Nov 30
Pope preaches forgiveness in Myanmar Mass.
Other reports of visit to Burma: here
On December 26 I'm due to start an anti-drug campaign trip to
South America, visiting 9 countries before returning to HK please God on January
26. All my air tickets are booked. Yesterday I started working on hotel bookings
....safe places where I can have a gathering with families of inmates in
HK...and have meetings with local media. And I'm hoping to be soon able to have
a simple conversation in Spanish ...it's so easy compared with Chinese!
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Proverbs
15: A mild answer diffuses a tense situation.
A sharp answer stirs up anger. A kind tongue is a source of life.
A harsh tongue hurts other people's feelings. A happy heart produces a cheerful face.
A sad heart means a drooping spirit. Hot-headed people provoke disputes.
Peaceful people prevent disputes. Without deliberation, plans come to nothing.
Successful plans need many counselors. A kindly glance gives joy to the heart.
Good news gives strength to the bones.
Dear Lord, please give me a
kind tongue
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
49-50: I will turn my mind to a parable,
with the harp I will solve a problem. The problem is: why do bad people prosper and
succeed? The answer: at the end of their lives bad
people will have to face death and judgement, just like everyone else. When we are rich, we often lack wisdom.
Wealth blinds our minds and hearts. Let's not forgot God and his laws.
Let's try to be good and lead good lives
Lord, please help me understand
the meaning of life
Listen
Revelation
2.8-10:
He gave me this message for the church in
Smyrna: "I know the trials you have been through,
and how poor you are, and the slanderous attacks that have been made on
you. Do not be afraid of suffering, afraid of
prison.
Even if you have to die, keep faithful,
and I will give you the prize of eternal life"
Jesus, help me stay faithful when I experience
trials and suffering
Listen
Mark
9.1-8: One day Jesus took his disciples Peter, James and John
up a high mountain.
On the mountain Jesus' whole appearance changed.
His face shone like the sun. His clothes were as white as snow. Moses and Elijah appeared
and spoke with him. Peter said to Jesus "Lord, how good it is for
us to be here!" Then a bright cloud covered them with its
shadow.
From the cloud came a voice:
"This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him." The disciples bowed to the ground.
When they got up, they saw only Jesus in his normal appearance.
Jesus,
how good it is to spend time with you
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
How good is the wisdom contained in Proverbs! This is the sort of teaching that students should learn at school!
-------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
246: Listen
At the conclusion of this lengthy
reflection which has been both joyful and troubling, I propose that we offer two
prayers.
The first we can share with all who believe in a God who is the all-powerful Creator, while in the other we Christians ask for inspiration to take up the commitment to creation set before us by the Gospel of Jesus.
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
226: Listen
Conflict cannot be ignored or concealed. It has to be
faced.
But if we remain trapped in conflict, we lose our perspective, our horizons shrink and reality itself begins to fall apart.
In
the midst of conflict, we lose our sense of the profound unity of reality.
-------------------------------------
In China they now speak about a "DynastXi"
--------------------------------------
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 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, Thursday,
please pacify Al-Qaeda
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Jesus, please protect Pope Francis in Burma today
Wed Nov 29
Last night I was privileged to attend a function organised by the Kun
Sun Association which for four decades has beautifully ministered to
prisoners in HK. Very inspiring. Function was held in rooftop complex of the
world's 12th tallest building! Owner of building, a kind Christian, donated
the facility (as he does each Sunday for a church group)
Pope fails to mention Rohingya in Myanmar speech
(but check the final part of this story...he mentioned
without mentioning)
Same-sex marriage vote: It's just as we feared
Proposed bill doesn't protect freedoms.
Bruce Duncan: Pope's World Day of the Poor - "The poor are our passports to paradise"
--------------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
The
Bishops Statement on Translation
Just as they rolled over when the current text was foisted on a voiceless people
in 2011, so they have done again.
(Well said, Chris. My blood also boiling... see my article of 2012)
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Proverbs 13-14:
Guard your talk and you will protect your
life.
People who talk too much, easily get into trouble. Choose wise people as your friends and you
will be happy.
Choose foolish people as friends and your problems will multiply. The heart knows its own grief best.
No human person can fully understand another person's heart. A peaceful heart is necessary for good health.
Envy is like a cancer in the bones. Injustice to the poor is an insult to our
Creator.
Kindness to the poor gives honor to our Creator. Virtue makes a nation great.
Sin causes empires to fall.
Dear God, please help everyone
in our country
to be wise and kind and just.
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
46: God is for us a refuge and strength,
in time of distress he is a helper close at hand. Therefore we shall not fear even though the
earth should rock,
even though the mountains fall into the sea. The Lord of hosts is with us.
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Come and consider the works of the Lord
and always remember his words: "Be still and know that I am God".
Lord, help us to be more aware
of your presence,
especially when we are in trouble
Listen
Revelation
2.1-4:
The Son of Man gave me this message for the
church in Ephesus:
"I know all about you. I know how much you have suffered for me. But your love has grown cold. Repent, and revive your original love"
Jesus, keep my love for you strong. Don't let
it grow cold
Listen
Mark
8.27-38: One day Jesus asked his disciples
"Who do people say I am?" The disciples replied
"Some say you are one of the famous prophets".
Jesus then asked them "And who do you say I
am?" Peter answered "You are
the Christ". Jesus then explained to them
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:
Many
years ago, former Australian Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies said "what
our world needs is not some economist's theory, but a great mood of
unselfishness" (c.f. today's Gospel)
-------------------------------------------------------
Pope's
letter on climate change: Laudato Si 我主應受讚美
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
245: Listen God,
who calls us to generous commitment and to give him our all, offers us the light
and the strength needed to continue on our way.
In the heart of this world, the Lord of life, who loves us so much, is always present.
He does not abandon us, he does not leave us alone, for he has united himself definitively to our earth, and his love constantly impels us to find new ways forward. Praise be to him!
------------------------------------
Pope Francis: The
Joy of the Gospel
Full
English text Full
Chinese text
221: Listen
Progress in building a people in peace, justice and
fraternity depends on four principles related to constant
tensions present in every social reality.
These derive from the pillars of the Church's social doctrine, which serve as "primary and fundamental parameters of reference for interpreting and evaluating social phenomena".
In their light I would now like to set forth these four specific principles which can guide the development of life in society and the building of a people where differences are harmonized within a shared pursuit.
I do so out of the
conviction that their application can be a genuine path to peace within each
nation and in the entire world.
-------------------------------------
At last night's function (see top of menu) I met a number of people from the England and Scotland. We politely agreed not to mention cricket or Rugby football (... cricket: Australia defeated England; football: England and Scotland doing well...Australia doing very badly)
--------------------------------------
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 29th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Chongqing
And praying for one of
the
world's poorest countries each day of he month:
On this 29th of the month, Jesus please
bless the people of Muritania
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
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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